Credit:  Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times  /  United Nations  Secretary-General António Guterres addresses reporters at UN headquarters in New York Oct. 25, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo     /   DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS   – NEW YORK –  UN Secretary-General António Guterres  Friday called on world leaders to listen to the voices of  people demonstrating around the globe for social equality. Current or recent demonstrations and protests have raged in the streets of Bolivia, Chile, Hong Kong, Ecuador, Egypt, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq and Lebanon.  Major protests earlier in the year were also seen in Algeria, Honduras, Nicaragua, Malawi, Russia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

“We are witnessing a wave of demonstrations around the world from the Middle East  to  Latin America, the Caribbean, from Europe to Africa, and Asia. Every Situation is linked some protests are triggered by economic issues including rising prices, persistence in equality or financial systems that benefit elites others stem from political demands. and people are objecting to corruption or different forms of discrimination.”

-United Nations  Secretary-General António Guterres.

Credit: Wikipedia Commons /   June 16 demonstration, at Justice Drive, capturing Queensway, Admiralty. during 2019  HONG KONG   protests.

The UN Secretary-General urged world leaders “to listen to the real problems of real people.”

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times  /  United Nations  Secretary-General António Guterres addresses reporters at UN headquarters in New York Oct. 25, 2019.

Protests in cities across the world in recent days show that “people are hurting and want to be heard” by political leaders who must now address a “growing deficit of trust”, said the UN chief on Friday.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES Video  /  United Nations  Secretary-General António Guterres addresses reporters at UN headquarters in New York Oct. 25, 2019 on wave of global protests. 

“We need to think about  the underlying factors. It is clear there is a growing deficit of trust between people and  political establishments, and rising threats to the social contract. The  world is also wrestling with the negative impacts of globalization and  new technologies which have increased inequalities in societies. Even when people are not protesting they are hurting and want to be heard.”

-United Nations  Secretary-General António Guterres

UN Chief  Concerned About Deadly Violence In Some Protests

Guterres said he was “deeply concerned that some protests have led violence and loss of life”.   He said Governments have an obligation to uphold free expression and peaceful assembly, and to “safeguard civic space.  “There can be no excuse for violence – from any quarter. Above all I urge leaders everywhere to listen to the real problems of real people. Our world needs action and ambition, to build fair globalization, strengthen social cohesion and tackle the climate crisis.”

But while security forces needed to use maximum restraint, it is also incumbent on protesters “to follow the examples of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and other champions of non-violent change”, added the UN chief.