UNITED NATIONS: The UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Husein said on Thursday he leaves the post very concerned about populism, intolerance and op­­pression “becoming fashionable again,” which could lead to conflict.

Mr al-Husein is stepping down on August 31. Al-Husein who is known for defending his outspoken criticism of rights abuses in dozens of countries from Myanmar and Hungary to the United States, insisting that his office doesn’t “bring shame on governments, they shame themselves.”

At a farewell press conference at the UN Corres­pon­dents Club at the UN headquarters that “silence does not earn you any respect — none.”

Looking back at his four-year term as UN high commissioner for human rights, the Jordanian prince said he will give his successor the same advice his predecessor, Navi Pillay, gave him — “be fair and don’t discriminate against any country” and “just come out swinging.”

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018