UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres commented on the protests that are taking place around the world, reports Tanjug.
Guterres reminded that freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are basic human rights and called on the forces of order securing the protests to exercise "maximum restraint".
As UN spokesman Stefan Dižarik said, Guterres specifically pointed to the protests in Ecuador, South Africa, Hong Kong and Iraq, in which 42 people have lost their lives so far, AP reported.
Dižarik reported that Guterres reminded that the right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly are "the cornerstone of our society" and that they are of crucial importance for peace, the progress of democracy and the development of society.
Guterres called on the demonstrators to refrain from violence and appealed to the forces of order to respond to the demonstrations in accordance with international human rights standards.
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