UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AND UN HIGH COMMISSIONER ADDRESS COMMEMORATIVE SESSION ON UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded its commemorative session of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a high-level segment which was addressed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, and other dignitaries.

Secretary-General Ban said from Abkhaz to Zulu, the Universal Declaration was the world’s most translated document. Its words rang in every corner of the planet. The Universal Declaration embodied groundbreaking principles: the universality of human rights, and their indivisibility. It enshrined the interdependence of security, development and respect for human rights. And it placed a moral obligation on States not to pick and choose among rights and freedoms, but to uphold them as a whole.

Mr. Ban noted that they had come a long way since the Declaration’s adoption. But the reality was that they had not lived up to its vision, at least not yet. Abject poverty, shameful discrimination and horrific violence continued to plague millions of people.

Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the Universal Declaration made manifest the relationship between fundamental freedoms and social justice, and the connection of both of these elements with peace and security. Its framers wisely chose not to rank rights. On the contrary, they recognized the equal status of political and civil rights with economic, social and cultural rights.

Ms. Pillay said that she was encouraged by the enormous attention that the yearlong commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had brought to the issue of human rights. But they were still a very long way from achieving the goals laid down in the Universal Declaration. They should never forget that tens of millions of people around the world were still unaware that they had rights that they could demand, and that their governments were accountable to them, and to a wide-ranging body of rights-based national and international law.

Martin I. Uhomoibhi, President of the Human Rights Council, underscored that six decades on, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognized the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and continued to affirm the inherent human dignity and worth of every person in the world, without distinction of any kind. It had, over the years, come to be accepted as the fundamental norms of human rights and has been translated into law through which human rights were defined and guaranteed.

The Council also heard a message from Nelson Mandela. Addressing the Council were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, the Minister of External Relations of Brazil, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco, the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, the Minister for the Promotion of Human Rights of Burkina Faso, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Spain, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of Germany, the Chairman of the National Centre for Human Rights of Uzbekistan, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, the Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Colombia, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights and Disaster Management and Secretary-General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process for Sri Lanka.

Representatives of Amnesty International, the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues, and the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development took the floor, as did a Gold Medallist of Women Power Lifting, Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

The next regular session of the Human Rights Council will be held from 2 to 27 March 2009.

Opening Statements

BAN KI-MOON, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that on this sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he had a message to the peoples of the world: Congratulations! From Abkhaz to Zulu, the Universal Declaration was the world’s most translated document. It was available in 360 languages. Its tenets had been absorbed into the constitutions of many newly independent States and new democracies. Its words rang in every corner of the planet. The Universal Declaration embodied groundbreaking principles: the universality of human rights and their indivisibility. It enshrined the interdependence of security, development and respect for human rights. And it placed a moral obligation on States not to pick and choose among rights and freedoms, but to uphold them as a whole.

The Declaration’s framers had proclaimed the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings, said Mr. Ban. They had unequivocally linked destitution and exclusion with discrimination. They had understood that social and cultural stigma made it impossible for people to obtain justice or participate fully in public life. The Universal Declaration had been born following the utter devastation of the Second World War. The international community had drawn ideals, principles and achievements from diverse cultures to form this foundation on which they had built a great tower of human rights law. They were still adding to this edifice.

Earlier this year, Mr. Ban said he had had the privilege of meeting one of the activists who had pushed for the treaty against enforced disappearances. Her name was Estela Barnes de Carlotto. She had joined a movement of Argentine grandmothers after her own daughter had disappeared. Eventually she had become a force for international action. She was exceptional – but she was also typical of the human rights defenders on the frontlines of abuse who had risked their lives to ensure that others were protected. It was the disabled persons who had led the process of drafting the treaty on their rights. It was torture victims who had stood up against the atrocities they had endured. And it was women who had fought gender discrimination. Today was also their day: a day to pay tribute to all the activists who had refused to be silenced by their tormentors.

The world had not adopted such an impressive list of human rights instruments just to put them on a shelf somewhere at the United Nations. These had to be living documents that could be wielded by experts who scrutinized country reports or assessed individual complaints, said Mr. Ban. Many delegates met at the United Nations, but among the most passionate were the human rights experts. Today was their day, too. Non-governmental organizations carried the banner as well. These groups were crucial in pressing for the rule of law and holding governments to their promises. They might be outspoken, but they were not out of line. Today was also their day. The press likewise deserved credit for bringing human rights abuses to light. Courageous journalists had risked and lost their lives to report on threats against others. This anniversary was a milestone for them, too, a day on which to stress again the need for media to be free to do their job, and free of harassment, intimidation and worse.

Mr. Ban noted that they had come a long way since the Declaration’s adoption. But the reality was that they had not lived up to its vision, at least not yet. Abject poverty, shameful discrimination and horrific violence continued to plague millions of people. As they marked this milestone, they had to also acknowledge the savage inhumanity that too many people in the world had to endure. There was no time to rest. This Council could have a tremendous impact, but its members had to rise above partisan posturing and regional divides. One way to do this was with continued vigilance in carrying out the Universal Periodic Review, which assessed the human rights records of all States. The Council had to address human rights abuses wherever they occurred. The Council had also to press countries to follow the recommendations of the independent experts and treaty bodies monitoring human rights. All Member States shared a responsibility to make the Council succeed.
Member States should also do more to support the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mr. Ban urged all Member States to strengthen support for the Office and the leadership of High Commissioner Navi Pillay.

The Universal Declaration had been created as “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”. Today was a day for all peoples in all countries to celebrate. But it was also a day on which they had to pledge that the work of human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, experts, policy-makers, journalists and all people of conscience had to continue until the timeless and universal principles in this Declaration became not just an inspiration or an aspiration, but the foundation of life for all of the world’s people, said Mr. Ban.

MARTIN I. UHOMOIBHI, President of the Human Rights Council, said that it was a great honour and privilege to welcome everyone to this special commemorative session to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this day, the Human Rights Council paid high tribute to this living document’s enduring relevance and universality. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was borne out of extreme human misery, injustice and inequality now served as the foundation of international human rights law and the bedrock of the Human Rights Council. It was the first statement on the basic principles of inalienable human rights and a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

Six decades on, the Universal Declaration recognized the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and continued to affirm the inherent human dignity and worth of every person in the world, without distinction of any kind, Mr. Uhomoibhi underscored. It had, over the years, come to be accepted as the fundamental norms of human rights and had been translated into law through which human rights were defined and guaranteed. It has inspired numerous legally binding international human rights treaties and declarations, regional conventions, as well as national Constitutions. This rich body of international human rights treaties sought to strengthen and protect human rights. Available in over 360 languages and dialects, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was also recognized as the world’s most translated document. This made it among the most widely accessible documents in the world. The sheer magnitude of the availability of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a key first step in increasing awareness of human rights amongst rights-holders.

Last year, when Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon launched a year-long United Nations System-wide advocacy campaign to mark the important milestone, he had appropriately chosen the theme “Dignity and Justice for All of Us” to remind everyone that, for many people in many places, the enjoyment of those essential values remained largely unrealised, Mr. Uhomoibhi said. For the millions of people across the world who were still denied the full enjoyment of their rights and dignity, for those millions, the story of the Declaration was still unfolding. The sixtieth anniversary had therefore provided an opportunity to pause and reflect upon the situation of human rights observances in the world today.

At the core of the human rights concept was the universal obligation to protect the human dignity of all persons, regardless of race, gender, colour or belief. Consequently, one of the fundamental challenges faced today was awareness raising, that was how to make sure people, ordinary people, knew their rights, so that they were able to claim them.

NAVI PILLAY, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the principles that underpinned the human rights system born out of the Universal Declaration’s vision were the universality of human rights; indivisibility of all human rights; interdependence of security, development and respect for human rights; and responsibility of all States for the fulfillment of their human rights obligations. It was by articulating the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings that the formidable intuition of the Declaration’s framers achieved true greatness. The Universal Declaration gave impulse to a wide and growing legal architecture, as well as advocacy vehicles, for the promotion and the protection of all rights.

Today, the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration had found an echo in the constitutions and laws of more than 90 countries. Ms. Pillay said dedicated international, regional and national mechanisms, including her Office and the Human Rights Council with its independent experts, had been established to be both the custodians and the monitors of human rights, their promotion and protection. Civil society everywhere exerted vigilance over rights implementation with a growing capacity and expanding influence.

The Universal Declaration made manifest the relationship between fundamental freedoms and social justice, and the connection of both of these elements with peace and security. Its framers wisely chose not to rank rights. On the contrary, they recognized the equal status of political and civil rights with economic, social and cultural rights. They did so because all rights were inextricably linked. Violations of a set of rights reverberated on other rights and enfeebled them all. As the Secretary-General had noted, the recent food emergencies, the degradation of the natural environment, the current financial crisis and the unrest that they engendered, all underscored that those who were at the frontlines of hardship were also most likely to be the victims of the ripple effects of human rights violations.

Ms. Pillay said that the importance of human rights principles, such as equality, participation, accountability and the rule of law, was now widely accepted. Information and the freedom to organize and express views openly were vital for good policy making and measurable implementation. Socio-economic rights were critical for the meaningful exercise of these freedoms. And gender equality, a right in and of itself, had also been an indispensable precondition to maximizing and propagating education, development and community welfare.

Ms. Pillay said that she was encouraged by the enormous attention that the yearlong commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had brought to the issue of human rights. But they were still a very long way from achieving the goals laid down in the Universal Declaration. No country in the world could sit back complacently and say “We’re there.” They should never forget that tens of millions of people around the world were still unaware that they had rights that they could demand, and that their governments were accountable to them, and to a wide-ranging body of rights-based national and international law. Despite all their efforts over the past 60 years, it was essential that they kept up the momentum, and thereby enabled more and more people to realize their rights.

KUFFASE NOANE, Geneva International School Student, reading a message on behalf of NELSON MANDELA, said that as they celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights today, they should not forget that they were human only through the humanity of other beings. Today, they celebrated the fact that the Declaration had inspired extraordinary human rights development in the past six decades. For those who had had to fight for their emancipation, such as in South Africa, who had had to free themselves from the criminal apartheid system, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had served as the vindication of the justice of their cause. At the same time, it was a challenge to them that their freedom, once achieved, should be dedicated to the implementation of the fundamental freedom and rights contained in the Declaration.

Today, human beings, who were the subject of the Universal Declaration, continued to be afflicted by wars and violent conflicts, oppression, discrimination, poverty and other social ills which constituted an offence against the Declaration, Mr. Mandela’s statement said. Far too many were still denied the fundamental and inalienable rights enshrined in this historic document. The very right to be human was denied everyday to hundreds of millions of people. Ten years ago, when the Declaration had turned 50, they had told the United Nations General Assembly that the challenge posed by the next 50 years consisted in whether humanity, especially those occupying positions of leadership, would have the courage to build a human world consistent with the articles of the historic Declaration. Today, this pressing challenge remained more relevant than ever.

MICHELINE CALMY-REY, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, said that today everyone was reunited for the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as solemnly proclaimed in December 1948 before the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was the first text that did not make any distinction between citizens and slaves, men and women, persons of colour, religious belief and culture.

History had taught the international community and the world that human dignity was universal and was not the result of western culture. They were applicable to everyone, be it in Guantanamo or Switzerland, Ms. Calmy-Rey stressed. This concept applied to the essence of the human being and applied to all. The idea of human dignity was the same around the world. Although the term human rights were born in the West it was not a product of the West. One of the main flaws in the Western development of human rights was that women, black people and people who were not Christian underwent a long campaign in the fight for such rights, in which they had been excluded.

Today in cities around the world there were people from all cultures and origins – a utopian culture. It was not to be forgotten that the great religions had stood by each other in the past and that history proved it was possible again. During the reign of the Caliphate, Jews, Christians and Muslims lived in peace and therefore that vision remained a possibility today. That example was a cross point for which the work of the international community must strive to. Ms. Calmy-Rey urged the international community not to be distracted between socio-economic and political issues. It was a failure of responsibilities that so many men, women and children remained left out and lived in extreme poverty, without proper sanitation facilities and adequate food supplies, among other things.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contributed to cohesion and social progress and the peaceful settlement of differences Ms. Calmy-Rey stressed. If the ideals of the Universal Declaration were to be fully implemented, some challenges remained that needed to be overcome. The norms which were carefully built needed to be put to use. The Human Rights Council was a place for dialogue between Member States with mutual respect for one another. Another challenge included the legal responsibility of the various players, where in the past States had the sole responsibility to fulfil such rights, and where today States had been delegating responsibility to the private sector. Major economic players now had real power over State policy and real influence that was not present in the past. Further, on the expression of one’s ideas, and freedom of expression, a distinction had to be made between when it was a case of freedom of expression and when it was hate speech. Freedom of expression thus had limitations, in cases where it bordered on hate for another and threatened ones security.

Ms. Calmy-Rey said that there was a collective responsibility for all to respond to the calamity of victims around the world. The international community could not close their eyes to the silent deaf child who died of hunger.

CELSO AMORIM, Minister of the External Relations of Brazil, said that throughout the last decade they had seen a substantial evolution of the efforts to promote and protect human rights. In many respects the world was better now than it was 60 years ago. This change had much to do with the growing conscience of the need to acknowledge and respect human rights for all. Human rights law had expanded both thematically and geographically. Today, all human rights were equally recognized as universal, interdependent, inter-related, indivisible and mutually reinforcing. This was a time for celebration but it was also time to act on this shared responsibility. Brazil, and Latin America in general, were very much aware of the centrality of political and civil rights. Most of the region had experienced years or, in some cases, decades of dictatorial or authoritarian regimes in the not too distant past. They could thus fully appreciate the value of political and civil rights for which their peoples had fought so hard.

Brazil had appeared before the first session of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in 2008. Its preparation had helped the government and civil society to identify the areas in which Brazil had achieved important results and the challenges that it still faced. The full enjoyment of human rights required engagement and cooperation. They had to go beyond mere criticism. Cooperation, dialogue and persuasion were the most adequate means to promote human rights. In most cases economic sanctions hurt the most vulnerable without attaining their proclaimed goals.

Mr. Amorim emphasized that South-South cooperation in the field of human rights should be strengthened. Brazil had increased its dialogue and concrete actions with other developing countries in order to accomplish fundamental rights such as peace, health, education and development. The recent crises on food, energy and finance had shown the extent to which human rights were intrinsically related to the social and economic fabric. With this in mind, President Lula proposed to convene a high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council to address the financial crisis. Brazil was convinced that the Human Rights Council should also contribute to this debate by discussing the impacts of the crisis.

Mr. Amorim noted that the Human Rights Voluntary Goals were approved by consensus during the ninth session of the Human Rights Council. Brazil was committed in the next 10 years to combating hunger and poverty, ratifying international instruments, strengthening its human rights legal and political framework, establishing national institutions, cooperating with the United Nations system and accomplishing the right to development, among others.

High Level Segment

TAIEB FASSI FIHRI, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco, said that through their participation in today’s celebration, Morocco wished to reiterate its full support to the universal values and the durable rights inscribed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Their relevance and topicality were continuously being confirmed. The Declaration had also been the source of inspiration for a range of international instruments. This common heritage was being celebrated now. Today countries were more aware than ever before of their obligations for the respect and promotion of human rights in the current international complex and delicate atmosphere.

Morocco had adopted a progressive and pragmatic approach in ensuring that there was a harmonic balance between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. Morocco had been engaged in the past years in many in-depth reforms anchoring the rule of law and democracy. The aim was to ensure that the country could ensure its democratic transition to the highest level.

Economic, social and cultural rights constituted a fundamental part in the current reforms in Morocco. The King had launched in 2005 a national initiative to ensure a decent life of those living in poorer regions. Morocco had also been very active on the international scene, contributing to the strengthening of the United Nations human rights system. In this regard, Morocco had initiated with Switzerland a declaration on human rights education and training.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been adopted in a reaction to a tragic global conflict. The international community had to redouble its efforts to make sure that humanity was protected from the atrocities of armed conflicts. The right to life was the most important of all rights. The resolution of conflicts through dialogue, negotiations and compromise was a much needed principle. This was a condition to ensure to future generations a peaceful environment.

The defence and promotion of human rights could only be ensured if they were truly protected against all forms of instrumentalisation or exploitation. This was particularly important if dialogue had been chosen to settle a political dispute.

Turning to the upcoming Durban Review Conference, he said that this was an important event and he paid tribute to the efforts deployed by the High Commissioner in the preparation of the Conference.

RAMA YADE, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that 60 years ago on 10 December 1948 following a world war, the General Assembly of the United Nations had adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration proclaimed that each human being enjoyed the same inalienable rights and that those rights were indivisible. Freedom, democracy and dignity were central to the Universal Declaration and were being celebrated around the world today. The Declaration provided a real road map for all humanity. It was the central duty and moral obligation of all to make sure that human rights triumphed and that they were made a reality for all. The Universal Declaration was the source of all international treaties and instruments on human rights seen today. The universal nature of the Declaration was reaffirmed by the international community in Vienna in 1993 and at the World Summit in 2005, among other things. Human rights were the common heritage of humanity and the message of hope for all the oppressed in the world. The Palais des Nations symbolically represented the environment in which the special mechanisms of human rights were set-up.

Ms. Yade noted that undeniable progress had been achieved. In terms of norms there were eight major international conventions to date. This was a significant advance but was still not enough. All Member States were urged if they had not yet done so already to accede to all the conventions and lift all reservations to such treaties. The European Union had recently adopted guidelines on violence against women. Further, the United Nations had launched an inter-agency campaign against rape that had been launched to combat the emerging cases of violence against women around the world.

The Human Rights Council was established in 2006 with an aim to increase legitimacy; the success thus far of the Universal Periodic Review illustrated one example of its legitimacy. The Council looked at worrying human rights situations and illustrated to the international community and the world its actions to such situations as the cases of Darfur and the recent food crisis, Ms. Yade stressed. She urged the Council not to fail in continuing such efforts in this regard. Despite the considerable set of achievements, the Council was not free of criticism. Country mandates were often attacked, and as such all Member States were urged to put aside such issues.

Cultural relativeness was a smoke screen for undermining human rights in the name of tradition, culture and religion, Ms. Yade reaffirmed. Female genital mutilation had to be combated, and cultural diversity had to be practiced while respecting differences. When a fundamental right was violated all other rights were in danger. Particularly, there was a heavy task to promote human rights in education around the world. In defending human rights it was important to counter xenophobia and racism. The Durban Review Conference aimed to combat tolerance for racism and xenophobia, which had to be countered and combated in every form. The challenges that faced the international community in fully implementing human rights for all had already been identified by everyone, and all must face up to their failures and take the next steps. The process must focus on the future and not the past and demonstrate to what extent human rights could play in countering racism. The world must not indulge in pointless debate, but rather look forward to a more balanced position.

All States had to ensure their compliance with human rights, Ms. Yade stressed. Progress had been achieved, but everyone had seen just how much further remained to be done. The rights of women and children needed to be of particular attention, as they were often forgotten. Furthermore, the European Union fully supported the work of the General Assembly, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and all United Nations mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights.

JEAN ASSELBORN, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg, said that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the intangible principles enshrined therein were the fruit of the efforts and the resolute will of men and women of all regions of the world. He underlined the role of the International Criminal Court in combating impunity of perpetrators of human right violations and called on States to accede to the Rome State in order to guarantee its universality. Further, he welcomed the fact that capital punishment was now subject to a debate in the General Assembly. The common aim must be the abolishment of capital punishment. Luxembourg hoped that with the election of Barack Obama, the United States would now pursue a new path. Regarding the banning of cluster munitions, Luxembourg encouraged countries to sign the convention and ensure its universal nature. He hoped that progress was made in Russia, China and the United States in this regard.

Until now, many States could conceal violations they were responsible for under the veil of their sovereignty. The challenges that they were facing were daunting, but Mr. Asselborn said that this tragic reality concerned all regions of the world, and Europe should not forget the recent war in the Balkans. It was terrible to look at the statistics that showed how many women and young girls had been raped in the course of war and how many children were forced to serve as soldiers.

Mr. Asselborn drew the attention of the Council to economic, social and cultural rights. They were particularly relevant regarding health care, housing and food. He underlined that the financial and food crises should not be an excuse to delay the Millennium Development Goals. Solidarity must remain strong when the world was seeing crises of this scale.

Regarding the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Asselborn mentioned the special session of the Human Rights Council a week ago. He reiterated that rape could not be seen as a weapon of war and that perpetrators of war crimes must be brought to justice. Also, agreements must be implemented rapidly and effectively. This week, the Foreign Ministers of the European Union had decided to support efforts which would be done in cooperation with the African Union. As to Zimbabwe, Mr. Asselborn regretted seeing Robert Mugabe clinging to power. There were constant violations of human rights, the cholera epidemic had claimed many lives and had started to affect neighbouring countries. Mr. Asselborn called on countries to follow the example of some of the neighbouring countries and increase the pressure on Mr. Mugabe to step down.

NIZAR SADEQ AL BAHARNA, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, said that the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been the result of the common desire to achieve justice and equality, and had underlined the principles of respect for human dignity enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been an essential foundation for the development of the international community’s efforts to protect and promote human rights. On its basis a number of international human rights covenants and instruments, international declarations and conventions had been established.

Bahrain was governed by its respect for human rights in both word and deed. Referring to the ongoing efforts to promote the culture of human rights, Mr. Al-Baharna said that an example of these efforts had been the Kingdom’s report under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, presented to the Human Rights Council in April 2008. Bahrain had been the first country in the world to engage in the Universal Periodic Review process. The report had been prepared in consultation with other stakeholders at the national level, through a process characterized by transparency and participation. The report had included a number of voluntary commitments by the Kingdom in an effort to strengthen the human rights situation on the ground.

Mr. Al-Baharna noted that Bahrain had ratified and acceded to many human rights conventions and stressed the conviction that issues of human rights were indivisible and reaffirmed its commitment to respect and protect human rights on its territory, and to promote human rights around the world. Bahrain had been re-elected to the Human Rights Council this year. This was a proud achievement and clearly underlined the seriousness with which it took its responsibility, as required by the membership of the Council.

Today’s commemoration was an occasion to evoke what had been achieved and they seized the opportunity to remind the international community once again that the tragedy of the Palestinian People had started in the same year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that they were still suffering from the denial of their fundamental right to live in peace. Therefore, the international community had to work to put these rights into practice, particularly the Palestinian right to self-determination. For Bahrain, human rights occupied a central pillar and were the common responsibility of all nations.

SALAMATA SAWADOGO, Minister for the Promotion of Human Rights of Burkina Faso, said that on this day commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it was necessary to pay tribute to the drafters of human rights. By virtue of the Declaration many international human rights instruments had been adopted and built into the domestic legal order of States. The principle of universality was seen around the world where many people lived in conditions of underdevelopment, poverty, exclusion, conflicts and war, among other things. The time had come to invent new strategies and synergies, intergrading all of humanity.

Burkina Faso was committed to the respect, promotion and protection of human rights. The enjoyment and defence of human rights assumed people were aware of their rights, and thus it was important to build awareness within society. A number of initiatives had been implemented in the country and on the 22 December 2008, it would commemorate the activities and initiatives implemented for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Ms. Sawadogo urged for a better synergy and level of professionalism to be met, especially in Africa. The joint responsibility of all was that dignity and justice for all were not just empty words, but were a real goal that was attainable.

ABDELWAHEB ABDULLAH, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, said that the commemoration of this sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights demonstrated that the international conscience had reached maturity. Tunisia had sought to raise awareness of the indivisibility of human rights. Tunisia had ratified the majority of international documents in this regard and they had primacy above national law. Tunisia submitted its periodic reports in a timely fashion to the treaty bodies and the Human Rights Council.

Furthermore, Tunisia had improved an independent judiciary in order to promote pluralism and a culture of participation. The President of Tunisia had sought to support all elements of civil society. Also, Tunisia had undertaken efforts to enhance the work of the media. A great number of people in Tunisia had participated in those processes. Thanks to the freedom of assembly, there were now more than 9,000 associations in Tunisia. Also, Tunisia had supported the involvement of women and the youth. Medical care was available to 95 per cent of the population and the middle class had a broad base in the country. Mr. Abdullah said that the human rights system could only develop if the society was peaceful. Regional solidarity was needed in order to tackle the challenges such as ending terrorism. Tunisia called on the international community for efforts based on the noble principles of the United Nations system to face today’s challenges.

MOURAD MEDELCI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, said that Algeria welcomed this commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. This anniversary was an excellent time to measure the achievements since the adoption of the Universal Declaration in 1948. The Universal Declaration had buttressed the determination of the Algerian people to fight in order to win back their liberty. The centrality of human rights in international relations had given rise to the adoption of supranational instruments.

The problem of human rights was that they had been put at the centre of strategic stakes which sometimes went beyond ethical and moral motivations and some world powers had confiscated a common human ideal. This move had deprived the rest of the world of the sentiment that human rights were a part of all civilisations and not the exclusivity of one of them. This had led to the current instrumentalisation of human rights. The new architecture of the Human Rights Council had been designed to remedy this problem.

Mr. Medelci also reaffirmed the validity of the principles set out in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. All States had to promote and protect these rights and fundamental freedoms. But this did not mean that they were overlooking the importance of national and regional specificities. The refusal to recognize specificities had a name: dogmatism.

The Universal Declaration affirmed the key principle of human rights that rights were applicable without distinction. Yet racism was still a scourge, taking up new forms, like a virus. Thus the importance countries of the South attached to the Durban Review Conference. One of their tasks now was to attack the new forms of racism.

Further, one could only be faithful to the Universal Declaration if they reaffirmed their engagement towards both International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural rights. This anniversary was a moment of truth. Certain people still did not enjoy self-determination. The Palestinian people were also the victims of the most violent human rights violations, as had been recently noted by Desmond Tutu.

Turning to Algeria, he noted that it was party to almost all universal human rights treaties. Its commitments since its independence were a testimony to its conviction that human rights should benefit all people and nations. They were building a social democratic state ensuring civilians the full enjoyment of their rights. Given the atrocities of terrorism, Algeria had never given up its humanitarian ideal.

Further, the full realization of the human potential meant that they had to protect women too. Heavy sanctions had been set up in the legislative code against sexual harassment. Also, the moratorium on the death penalty was consolidated in Algeria and there had been ongoing legislative reforms in the country.

ANGEL LOSADA TORRES-QUEVEDO, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Spain, said everyone was gathered today in celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Spanish Government wanted to participate in the efforts made to contribute to those rights. A robust architecture was created with the adoption of the Universal Declaration and a first embodiment of ethical and moral values. The United Nations was behind the complex structure. The United Nations was the only framework able to provide a real boost for universality. Spain had benefited by this progress and in two weeks it would celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Spanish Constitution. Indeed, the Declaration alongside other conventions that were later adopted constituted the framework for the Constitution on the fundamental principles of human rights in Spain.

Human rights was a cross cutting concept in Spain, Mr. Torres-Quevedo stressed. Both sides of national policies, domestic and external were intimately linked. Internally, the work done in Spain culminated with the adoption of the Human Rights Plan, which was adopted in consultation with a broad range of members of civil society and non-governmental organizations. A real convergence between development and protection of human rights was also part of the culmination of human rights in Spain. National and international aspirations needed to be combined to the fulfilment of the full enjoyment of human rights. The abolition of the death penalty, and the elimination of discrimination based on race or religion was paramount. He stressed that the Universal Periodic Review had to remain as a channel for dialogue and constructive criticism between Member States. At a period of change now, the protection and promotion of human rights was needed more than ever. The new efforts made in the drafting the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was one example of a move towards such protections.

The forum of the United Nations needed to be used to construct the mandate of human rights, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Spain hoped that the next generation would celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Universal Declaration. Mr. Torres-Quevedo hoped that the twenty-first century was to be the century for real change, that everyone contributed to.

GUNTER NOOKE, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of Germany, said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a success story and therefore the Council had every reason to commemorate its sixtieth anniversary today. In 1948, visionary people, appalled at the most severe human rights violations, most of which had been committed by Germany, gathered in Paris to draft and adopt this Magna Carta of international human rights protection. A number of conventions and protocols had since been added, making it a solid normative framework for the protection of human rights. But the Council was not to shy away from the fact that, 60 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration, the most fundamental human rights continued to be violated on a large scale and in many parts of the world. It was not the normative framework which was missing, but its implementation. Hence, the Council’s thoughts today were also with the victims and the many women and men in civil society who oftentimes risked their lives to defend and protect them.

Last year, in June 2007, Bishop Desmond Tutu was applauded when he addressed the Council, Mr. Nooke noted. A few days ago he called for the resignation of President Mugabe in Zimbabwe, by force if need be. If someone like Bishop Tutu said that, it revealed the true magnitude of the crisis in Zimbabwe and the challenges for the international human rights policy to protect the human rights of millions of women, men and children in that country.

Cultures may differ, religions may differ, but human rights were either universal or they were not human rights at all. Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was very clear when it stated that everyone was entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. This article taught the world that human rights did not pertain to collective entities, but to each and every human being individually. It was to be regretted that in the past years much focus was put on the question of defamation of religion and belief, including the right to change it, as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But similar tendencies were to be observed also in the current debate about human rights protection in the fight against terrorism. This debate was very lively also in Germany. Convening a special session on the situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo two weeks ago signalled the willingness of the Human Rights Council to live up to its tasks by addressing also country specific situations if the situation required so, Mr. Nooke said.

AKMAL SAIDOV, Chairman of the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan, said that today they were celebrating the triumph of reason. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been the first universal document to which Uzbekistan had acceded after having reached its independence.

This year, the Uzbek President had adopted a series of measures in the framework of the current anniversary, with the objective to improve the situation of human rights in the country. This had led to education initiatives in schools. Their approach was based on the provisions of the United Nations Charter and to enhance understanding between nations and religions. Uzbekistan also presumed the interrelatedness of all human rights. The right to development and the full realization of the Millennium Development Goals were also important.

In Uzbekistan, they were also working towards bringing their legislation in line with the main United Nations human rights instruments, said Mr. Saidov. The country was a participant of many of the human rights documents; they had already presented some 22 reports to the various human rights bodies. Non-governmental organizations and the media were involved on a broad basis. Uzbekistan had also set up a national institution to protect human rights. The liberalisation of their court system, to ensure the independence of the judges, was also an important step. Turning to human rights education, they were delighted to indicate that literacy was at the 100 percent level in Uzbekistan. Further, more than 5,000 non-governmental organizations were registered in the country. It was of symbolic value that Uzbekistan had just presented its report during the current Universal Periodic Review session.

THEODOROS KASSIMIS, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, welcomed the celebration today of the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was the cornerstone of all fundamental freedoms. Over 250 international instruments dealing with human rights had already been signed since its adoption. Ever since 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remained the basic reference document for the protection and promotion of human rights. It represented a wise balance between the will of the western world to promote civil and political rights and the desire of developing States to give emphasis to social and economic rights.

Greece, the birthplace of democracy, was always a staunch supporter of the United Nations. The United Nations was the guardian of the international legal order and the key forum for the protection of human rights. Greece demonstrated its strong commitment to the cause of human rights with the signing and ratification of all relevant basic international treaties and conventions as well as most of the relevant optional protocols. Beyond Greece’s commitments at a national level, Greece also contributed to strengthening human rights, democratisation and the rule of law in other countries, within the framework of the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy. Human rights were not merely one of the European Union’s priorities but rather an issue of global concern, Mr. Kassimis stressed. They firmly supported the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights, both individual civil and political rights, on the one hand, and economic, social and cultural rights, on the other.

Greece firmly believed that respect for human rights, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law were all intertwined with peace, justice, security, stability, the eradication of poverty and cohesive socio-economic development. Greece was fully aware of the need for constant efforts in the area of the protection of human rights. Greece was committed to combating racism and xenophobia; to pay particular attention to the humanitarian aspects of asylum and migration; to improve measures against discrimination and in favour of integration of persons belonging to minorities; to prevent and combat human trafficking through a comprehensive policy and international cooperation; and to protect the rights of children, women and disabled persons, Mr. Kassimis noted.

ADRIANA HERNANDEZ, Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Colombia, said that the beginning of the Republic of Colombia was marked by the influence of the declaration of the rights of men proclaimed in the French Revolution. Ever since then, fundamental human rights had formed an integral part of Colombia’s historical and constitutional heritage. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights strengthened the commitment of States to respect rights and freedoms. States found in it a source to work together in harmony. The Colombian Constitution contained mechanisms that ensured the implementation of human rights for every citizen. The Human Rights Council was a new institution that would encourage states to abide by the principles of the Declaration. The President of Colombia had stated his full support to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and restated the need to approach these rights in a global fashion. Ms. Hernandez stressed the importance Colombia attached to the education of its citizens and in a culture of human rights. It depended on the present and future generations to determine whether the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would become immortal. Colombia was especially honored to be chosen as the headquarter of the Regional Conference for the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Declaration.

RAJIVA WIJESINHA, Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights and Disaster Management and Secretary-General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process for Sri Lanka, said that the interview of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay in the United Nations Special Magazine on Human Rights laid out clearly the aims and modalities that was to help to ensure that more people in more places had access to and were ensured the rights that the United Nations had recognized over the years. In this context it was important to affirm the need to promote all rights, not just those connected with particular predilections in particular places at particular times. Thus the discussion on Education for Minorities held next week was welcomed. Sri Lanka had over the years provided free education and health facilities to all its citizens, and had succeeded even in areas temporarily under terrorist control. Last week Sri Lanka managed to conduct the annual school leaving examination in such areas in spite of attempts to disrupt it, which were resisted by parents who continued to appreciate the country’s adherence to social and economic rights.

In this regard the interventions, such as that of the Non-Aligned Movement, which drew attention to certain lacunae in the original Declaration, were welcomed, Mr. Wijesinha said. The policy of making up for such omissions was implicit in the spirit of the Declaration, but continued vigilance to fulfil that spirit needed to be exercised. In particular, the Council needed to pay continuing attention to the economic, social and cultural rights that were sometimes ignored in particular interventions in the Council. Further, when the needs of the poor, the deprived, and the downtrodden were considered, the Council was not just to think of the countries that were poor, deprived, and downtrodden, but of those who suffered in countries that prided themselves, because of their relative affluence, on their apparent adherence to human rights norms. The plight of the homeless in such countries was not to be subject to such gimmicks as designer coats stuffed with newspaper, but may merit the attention of the Council, and the establishment of special mechanisms to alleviate the situation, if countries were unable to deal with such problems on their own.

At the same time, Sri Lanka was also committed to civil and political rights and had done its best to uphold them throughout the country, despite the difficulties of dealing with totalitarian terrorism. The universality of human rights was best exemplified perhaps with regard to terrorism and Sri Lanka hoped that it would no longer have to put up with selective critiques that privileged particular terrorists. Apart from its cavalier dismissal of the right to life, terrorism also led to special measures that led to other human rights abuses and a disregard for civilian life, Mr. Wijesinha said.

IRENE KHAN, of Amnesty International, said that there had been a lot of progress in the last 60 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, as they celebrate success, impunity and equality remained among the hallmarks of today. Terrorism was another major threat to human rights. Amnesty International condemned terrorist acts. Governments had to protect citizens from terrorist threats but had to do so within the framework of human rights. The biggest human rights crisis right now was poverty. There was a great risk that many more would be pushed back into poverty during the current financial crisis. The poorest and the most vulnerable were paying the price of the greed of the rich and powerful.

Amnesty International encouraged the Council to ensure that human rights were central to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. The Council must insist that the promises of the Universal Declaration, which made no distinction between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, were fulfilled.

International human rights were a unique responsibility of the United Nations. This Council, as the UN’s premier organization for human rights, had a fundamental role to play as the moral voice of the international community. It must address human rights violations forcefully, clearly and consistently. For this to happen, however, all Member States had to play their part fully. There was no place for spectators. Around the world, millions of people were marking the anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What would they see in ten years time? In 1948, in the face of enormous challenges, world leaders had shown courage in their farsighted vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today’s leaders must show courage and determination in action.

SOUHAYR BELHASSEN, of the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues, said that in the past months, some 200 human rights defenders and political opponents had been arrested. In another place, a journalist and human rights defender had been released from prison after three years of custody and torture. She had been freed thanks to the pressure of the international community.

Today, even 60 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, men and women who had chosen to peacefully fight for rights were continuing to pay with their lives. In all these situations the international community could intervene to save lives. All had appealed to the international community at some stage and had asked for intervention in their favour. The International Federation of Human Rights Leagues hoped that the Human Rights Council would fully implement its mandate and would answer the calls of the victims of human rights violations.

BIAN JIANXIN, Gold Medallist of Women Power Lifting, Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, said that it was a great honour to be part of the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights today. The Universal Declaration reaffirmed universal human rights in the world. Over the past half century the Universal Declaration had been a beacon of human rights principles and values. It was due to this document that people living with disabilities could live a normal and happy life. In the first 15 years of her career she had won over 15 gold medals, and broke a number of world records. Mrs. Jianxin said she pushed herself to the limits, built a family and a successful career despite living with a disability. The reform and open policies of the last thirty years in China brought about tremendous changes for all people living in China, in particular for persons living with disabilities. Reforms were specifically made in the areas of rehabilitation and social security, among other things. This September Beijing hosted the Paralympics, where thousands of people living with disabilities joined together with a common interest – their love for sport. She was committed to and joined the Human Rights Council in continuing efforts to spread and contribute to the further promotion and protection of human rights.

WILTON LITTLECHILD, of the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development, said that in 1948 indigenous peoples were not included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They were not considered to have equal rights as everyone else. Indeed they were not considered as human nor as peoples. Consequently, there were violations, at times gross violations, of their human rights. The Leaders and Elders gathered in the mid-seventies and were very concerned about this. After much deliberations and spiritual ceremonies they decided to seek recognition and justice from the international community. Today, the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development acknowledged the tremendous advancements they had made together over the past three decades in efforts to better the quality of life for indigenous peoples worldwide. One could argue that the United Nations had, with the important contribution of indigenous leaders and representatives, succeeded in ensuring that indigenous peoples were now part of humankind with equal rights and freedoms. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clarified how the Universal Declaration on Human Rights applied for their survival, dignity and wellbeing. Mr. Littlechild said that many challenges remained. Why was it that indigenous tribes, peoples and nations continued to lead in all the negative statistics? Why was it that there was still abject poverty among their families, especially their children?

MARTIN I. UHOMOIBHI, President of the Human Rights Council, in concluding remarks thanked all that had been there for this significant day and said that he was sure that they had all learned something more about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and once again committed themselves to work together towards the realization of human rights of all and for all, as inscribed in the Declaration.


For use of the information media; not an official record

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