Reform Is Necessary — But How Many More Lives Must Be Lost?

The UN Secretary-General has stated that reform of the Security Council is necessary. We agree that international institutions must evolve to reflect modern realities. The world has changed, conflicts have intensified, and repression has become more sophisticated. However, while governments debate procedures, mandates, and political balances, people continue to suffer. In Turkmenistan, systemic human rights violations persist: – arbitrary travel bans; – denial of passport renewal abroad; – persecution of activists; – enforced disappearances; – suppression of freedom of expression; – pressure on families of critics. These are not abstract statistics. They are human lives. They are families torn apart. They are children growing up in fear. While institutions shift responsibility from one body to another — citing limited authority, political complexity, or procedural barriers — individuals pay the price. This is not about geopolitics. This is about life itself. A life that, too often, is treated as negotiable. Reform must not be symbolic. It must place human dignity at the center. International law cannot remain a declaration without enforcement. Resolutions cannot become archives without consequences. Every day of inaction means another broken future. The Human Rights Platform of the Civic Movement “DAYANÇ” / Turkmenistan calls on the international community to ensure that reform leads to real protection mechanisms, accountability for systemic repression, and an unwavering commitment to human life. Peace and security are impossible without justice. And justice is impossible without protecting human rights. Human life must never become collateral in political negotiations.