France, Feb. 23 -- Opening the latest session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world was witnessing a worrying shift away from legal norms towards raw power.

"Human rights are under a full-scale attack around the world," he said, cautioning that "the rule of law is being outmuscled by the rule of force".

Importantly, Guterres stressed that these developments are unfolding in full view. "This assault is not coming from the shadows, or by surprise," he said. "It is happening in plain sight - and often led by those who hold the greatest power."

He did not list specific countries, but pointed to ongoing crises that illustrate the trend. In Ukraine, more than 15,000 civilians ha...