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GENEVA: The UN rights chief has decried mounting threats to women\u2019s rights worldwide, highlighting rampant femicide and horrific abuse exposed in cases like that of US sex offender Jefferey Epstein.<\/p>\n
Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Turk slammed \u201csocial systems that silence women and girls\u201d and allow powerful men to abuse them with impunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cViolence against women, including femicide, is a global emergency,\u201d the High Commissioner for Human Rights told the UN\u2019s top rights body.<\/p>\n
He highlighted the extreme situation in Afghanistan, warning that the \u201csystem of segregation imposed on women is reminiscent of apartheid, based on gender rather than race\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also pointed to two cases that have recently caused shock waves around the world: those of convicted Epstein and of French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot.<\/p>\n
Both cases \u201cshow the extent of the exploitation and abuse of women and girls\u201d, Turk said, asking: \u201cdoes anyone think there are not many more men like Dominique Pelicot or Jeffrey Epstein?\u201d<\/p>\n
Epstein associated with the world\u2019s rich, famous and powerful despite his conviction in 2008 to procuring a child for prostitution.<\/p>\n