Presentation of Desislava Todorova, Center for Legal Aid -Voice in Bulgaria, at the event “Of leadership & courage in international affairs” on 25 Sept 2025 – video extracts. An event co-organized by I4P – Internationale for Peace and the ITUMÒ Institute at the IPI – International Peace Institute in the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly high-level week in New York. AGENDA Of leadership & Courage in International Affairs: An ‘Unassuming’ & Informal Conversation Thursday 25 September, 11am – 1230 (New York Time) Hybrid event via Zoom with limited presence at IPI, New York Organizers: I4P – Internationale for Peace in collaboration with the ITUMÒ Institute and www.brunoforsg.com
” I’d like to address some human rights trends based on what we see on the ground.
- Disengagement of institutions on human rights
First, there is an increasing disengagement of institutions, authorities, political actors from human rights. What we are facing today it is a tendency of state actors to demonstrate “don’t care attitude” towards human rights. Authorities seem to not bother reacting, responding to human rights concerns or engaging with civil society. The “no bother stance” does not engage in arguments, findings, evidence, it simply renders human rights irrelevant. The disengagement has a paralyzing effect on human rights mechanisms and civil society. This is especially evidenced in cases where state actors do not bother complying with court decisions both on national and international level. Sever human rights violations often happen when we make them banality.
- Human rights vs Security
Second, a source of concern is the rising trend of invoking national security considerations to justify human rights restrictions. Authorities increasingly exercise absolute and largely uncontrolled discretion in determining what constitutes a security risk. Arbitrary security concepts could lead to arbitrary detention of vulnerable people like migrants and asylum seekers without legal certainty, safeguards and often for indefinite period. Recent migration reforms on European level even introduced the idea that, under some circumstances, unaccompanied migrant children as one of the most vulnerable groups could also be considered a security risk. If children can be a security threat, then, our future is a security threat. States cannot be permitted to take any measure they like in the name of arbitrary security concepts. Security considerations must be based on evidence, legal safeguards, transparency, independent judicial control and monitoring.
- For being more inclusive, transparent, and responsive, the international system needs a backbone for human rights by having human rights mechanisms with legally binding effect and the power to enforce decisions, sanction violations and effectively seek accountability. Without enforceability, accountability and binding material consequences states only pay lip service to human rights.
- For forging better partnership between Member States and civil society, states must take proactive steps to counter the rising trend of criminalising civil society actions. Proactive and urgent measures are thus needed to counter the growing trend of criminalising humanitarian solidarity with people on the move, marginalized groups, communities in conflict zones.
- For better reflecting the realities and voices of those most affected by conflict and humanitarian crises, we simply need to remind ourselves that human rights are universal and we need also to address double standards in human rights application. It also highly depends on states’ compliance with their humanitarian duties and responsibilities. States cannot apply them selectively. It is not a matter of states’ wish or will, it is a matter of clear humanitarian commitments and fundamental obligations that need to be enforced and held accountable. Meaningful transformation needs meaningful actions.
It is the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Indeed, it is a crossroad for the international system. Leadership is not about making people feel small or oppressing them. Leadership is about empowering people. Without strong human rights people cannot be empowered. ”
