UN human rights declaration being trampled on in conflicts across region: Turkish president

ISTANBUL

The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights is being trampled on in conflicts across the region, said Türkiye's president on Monday.

Marking the 77th anniversary of the declaration, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the ongoing conflicts in the region have gravely violated fundamental rights, especially the right to life.

He criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and the toppled Baath regime in Syria, saying the international community has largely failed to act in both instances.

“Israel’s war crimes and acts of genocide committed recklessly in Gaza for two years, in full view of the entire world, are the clearest evidence of this," he said following a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

He underlined that Türkiye continues to pursue "peace- and justice-oriented" policies in conflict-affected regions.

"Türkiye, with its state and people, has taught the world a lesson in human rights through its peace- and justice-oriented efforts in Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, in short, in all regions soaked in blood and tears," he said.

Türkiye's ties with Hungary

Referring to his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said Türkiye aims to expand its trade volume with Hungary, currently nearly $6 billion, to $10 billion.

He highlighted Hungary’s contributions to the Organization of Turkic States, noting that a 2025 meeting in Budapest marked the first Turkic World Summit held within the EU.

Erdogan also noted that Ankara’s compliance rate with European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings stands at 90%, above the Council of Europe average.

He pointed to double standards toward Türkiye and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the country's justice system.

"We see that those who harshly criticize Türkiye on this issue remain silent about many countries that have failed to implement ECHR rulings for years. These same circles also show no reaction to the fact that Israel, which has killed 270 journalists in the Gaza genocide, ranks ahead of Türkiye and Palestine in the so-called Press Freedom Index.

"They see no problem or contradiction in this distorted picture. Yet when it comes to Türkiye, fairness disappears, objectivity collapses, and ideological blinders replace impartiality. We will, of course, not pay heed to this. We will continue with determination to strengthen our justice system," he added.