GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) —The United Nations (UN) rights chief on Friday decried mounting threats to women’s rights worldwide, highlighting rampant femicide and horrific abuse exposed in cases like that of United States (US) sex offender Jefferey Epstein.

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Turk slammed “social systems that silence women and girls” and allow powerful men to abuse them with impunity.

“Violence against women, including femicide, is a global emergency,” the High Commissioner for Human Rights told the UN’s top rights body.

He highlighted the extreme situation in Afghanistan, warning that the “system of segregation imposed on women is reminiscent of apartheid, based on gender rather than race”.

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.

Both cases “show the extent of the exploitation and abuse of women and girls”, Turk said, asking: “does anyone think there are not many more men like Dominique Pelicot or Jeffrey Epstein?”

Epstein associated with the world’s rich, famous and powerful despite his conviction in 2008 to procuring a child for prostitution.

He died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while facing trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.

Gisele Pelicot meanwhile gave the public insight into her shocking case when she waived her right to anonymity during the 2024 trial in France of her ex-husband Dominique and dozens of strangers who he brought in to rape her while she was unconscious.

“Such horrific abuse is enabled by social systems that silence women and girls, and insulate powerful men from accountability,” Turk charged.

“States must investigate all alleged crimes, protect survivors, and ensure justice without fear or favour,” he insisted.

Turk also said he was deeply concerned by swelling attacks against publicly visible women, including online.

“Every woman politician I meet tells me they face constant misogyny and online hate,” he said.

The UN rights chief said that more broadly, he was deeply concerned by widespread violence targeting women.

He pointed out that in 2024 alone, “around 50,000 women and girls worldwide were killed… most by family members”.

“Violence against women, including femicide, is a global emergency,” he told the council.