UN concerned about excessive use of force in protests

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over excessive police force during recent protests across Europe. Volker Türk condemned violence linked to demonstrations and emphasized the right to peaceful protest. He called for accountability for those exploiting protests for violence and urged independent investigations into police actions. Türk highlighted the need for proportional responses from security forces and encouraged governments to address legitimate human rights concerns, particularly regarding education and living costs. He noted that many countries, including Italy, have seen protests escalate into violence, with a significant number of minors among those detained.