UN Security Council could save lives of hundreds of thousands in case of more responsible attitude toward conflicts, UN's human rights chief Navi Pillay said.

“Greater responsiveness by this council would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives,” she said.

In his speech before retiring from the post of high commissioner, Pillay said short-term geopolitical benefits and a narrow understanding of national interests were repeatedly placed above the grave breaches of international peace and security, BBC Russian service reported.