Borders, scams and stalled trust

Over 10 years ago, I had the privilege of serving as president of the Human Rights Council during a pivotal moment of institutional review.

- SIHASAK PHUANGKETKEOW

I still recall our retreat in Bangkok, where we gathered for frank and candid conversations. We did not resolve every issue then.But we were able to work across different regional and political groupings to ensure that the council could better deliver on its mandate to promote and protect human rights for all.

As we confront the challenges of multilateralism today, we must think and act collectively, for the success and effectiveness of the council is not measured by the number of resolutions we adopt, but by how our work translates into real improvements on the ground.

Human rights challenges today take many forms. One of the most urgent threats is the rapid expansion of transnational online scams. Millions of people worldwide fall victim to these crimes. Trafficked persons are trapped in scam compounds, subjected to coercion, violence and forced criminality. What we are witnessing is an industrial-scale scam network that has evolved into a global human rights crisis. These operations are allowed to fester because of the lack of the rule of law in the countries where they operate.