International law is our compass' in global conflict, UN rights chief tells RFI

International law is our compass' in global conflict, UN rights chief tells RFI centers on Volker Türk’s warnings about the human-rights impact of the war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Speaking to RFI, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said civilians are paying the highest price, from increased repression in Iran to broader regional instability in the Middle East. Türk raised concerns about the spread of drone warfare, the growth of autonomous weapons, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sudan. He also described the conflict’s economic consequences, citing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its effects on global trade and particularly vulnerable populations. Regarding Iran, Türk said internet access was cut for nearly three months, complicating information flow, but his office recorded at least 6,000 arrests since the war began. He linked the crackdown to a breakdown of trust between Iranian society and state institutions, while stressing that international law matters even when powerful states violate it.