A/HRC/33/26 7. However, he noted these were troubled times and it was not possible to say that the work was done. Tensions and deadly conflicts were on the rise, often exposing blatant disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law. The number of refugees and displaced persons was at an all-time high – over 60 million people: they were desperately seeking safety and a better life, and yet often faced closed borders, walls and hostility. Terrorism and violent extremism were serious threats to international peace and security. Terrorists and violent extremist groups wanted to create fear, which in turn could lead to polarization and division in societies and thus undermine the fundamental truth of the equal worth of all human beings. He noted, however, that there were situations where abuses were committed under the banner of fighting terrorist groups. Also, the space for civil society and the media was shrinking in many parts of the world and human rights defenders often faced threats and violence. At the same time, perpetrators of human rights violations, more often than not, went free, leaving victims to struggle for decades for accountability. Another disturbing reality was the continued discrimination and violence against women and girls everywhere. Unprecedented levels of inequalities within and between nations reminded of the need to place advancement of economic and social rights on a par with civil and political rights. Deep social and economic crises and injustices and the devastating effects of climate change contributed to leaving the human rights promise of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights unfulfilled for far too many people around the world. 8. Those negative trends must be reversed and human rights violations must be prevented. The Deputy Secretary-General highlighted some of the available tools, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment therein to leave no one behind and start with those furthest behind, as well as the Secretary-General’s groundbreaking Human Rights Up Front Initiative, based on promoting early warning, on principled and coordinated United Nations action and on closer engagement with Member States in a spirit of dialogue, transparency and cooperation. Finally, there must be a commitment to adopt human rights-based approaches to development that builds on free, active and meaningful participation, accountability, non-discrimination in all areas, including sexual orientation, equality and the empowerment of all. 9. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the Council had set up unprecedented processes for scrutiny of human rights issues and situations. It had initiated vital investigations into new crises and chronic violations and formulated crucial recommendations. The Council’s embrace of civil society was unmatched by any forum in the United Nations system, which contributed greatly to the Council’s relevance. As the world’s most authoritative forum on human rights, it was vital that the Council intensified its focus on improving the implementation of human rights commitments on the ground to ensure that the Council’s work became much more consequential. Looking ahead to the next 10 years, he expressed hope that all actors would be addressing the root causes of human rights violations much more forcefully. 10. Members of the Council needed to ensure that they consistently promoted all human rights within their own countries. They could also ensure that their development assistance policies worked to encourage other States to implement the recommendations of the human rights mechanisms, and to uphold human rights. The Council could take a leadership role in the drive for much more systematic follow-up to recommendations. On that point, his Office would be publishing good practices on coordinated national follow-up to human rights recommendations, which he hoped would inspire all Member States. 3