UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk warned on Monday of the growing risk of a return to an era of "dictators," citing increasing human rights violations worldwide. Speaking at the opening of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, he stressed that "autocrats now control about a third of the world economy, more than double the proportion 30 years ago."

Tuerk condemned the misuse of national security arguments to justify abuses, highlighting "hypocrisy, double standards, and impunity" as contributing factors. He also raised concerns over digital technologies being used for surveillance, spreading disinformation, and suppressing rights.

He urged urgent action to prevent a regression to past atrocities, warning, "Be aware: this can happen again."