Geneva - The new United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, called Monday for unity in the fight against human rights abuses.

A united front was needed towards human rights, Pillay said at the opening of a meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Pillay, a South African judge who took over as UN Commissioner from Canadian Louise Arbour on September 1, stressed the need to make more countries aware of abiding by human rights.

Her vision, she said, was of a world in which every man, woman and child, could live without the fear of hunger and enjoy protection from violence and discrimination.

It was also important for people to have a roof over their heads and to reap the benefits of health care, education and the chance to get on in life.

The UN, she said, recognized that development, security, peace and justice could not be fully realized without adherence to human rights.

This challenge would be taken up by the newly created 47-nation Human Rights Council, which is meeting until September 26, she said.

The council will also be discussing the human rights situation in global flashpoints such as Dafur or the Middle East. The situation in Georgia is also expected to come up for discussion. (dpa)