U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres says human rights are being “suffocated” around the world, lashing out at voices of division and anger who see them as a barrier to their quest

The United Nations chief warned Monday that human rights were being 'suffocated' globally, including by wars and violence as well as autocrats crushing opposition and trampling on international law.

"The global consensus on human rights is crumbling under the weight of authoritarians, strongmen and oligarchs," United Nations High Commissioner Volker Turk told a high-level meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.