In a critical address during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, a United Nations expert issued a stark warning about the deepening economic disparities between the global North and South, underscoring severe implications for human rights worldwide.

George Katrougalos, the independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, emphasized that entrenched structural inequalities persist within the global framework, manifesting through imbalances in trade, finance, technology, and governance. Katrougalos argued that without significant systemic reforms, the emerging multipolar world is at risk of devolving into fragmentation, jeopardizing cohesion and progress on a global scale.

These concerns were echoed in a recent UN report which assessed the current geopolitical trends exacerbating the North-South divide. The analysis highlighted the United States’ role in intensifying global inequality, noting specific issues like territorial ambitions and the imposition of global tariffs in April 2025. These actions have contributed to widening the economic gap and straining international relations.

The report identified four primary drivers of structural inequality: an international economic order that favors the North, the exploitation of environmental resources, the intertwined crises of debt and climate change, and a pronounced digital divide. To combat these disparities, the report recommends more inclusive representation of the global South in significant international bodies, suggesting expanded participation in the Security Council for regions such as India, Africa, Latin America, and the Muslim world. It also calls for a restructuring of global debt and climate financing and advocates for equitable digital access.

Established by Resolution 18/6 in 2011, the UN mandate for promoting a democratic and equitable international order aims to enable the full realization of human rights for all people. Essential to this order are equitable global decision-making participation, a healthy environment, and fair access to the benefits derived from international wealth distribution.

As the world grapples with these critical issues, the call for structural reforms becomes increasingly urgent, highlighting the need for global cooperation and a recommitment to the foundational principles of human rights and equality.