UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Louise Arbour, issued the following statement to mark Human Rights
Day which is commemorated on 10 December.
As we jointly celebrate today not only Human Rights Day
but also launch the year-long campaign leading to the 60th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we have cause to celebrate the
accomplishments made, since 1948, on the road to ensuring fundamental
freedoms for each one of us.
The Universal Declaration and its core values- inherent
human dignity, justice, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and
universality- apply to everyone, everywhere, always.
In all parts of the world, individuals, groups,
organisations, and Governments have striven to transform into reality the
promises contained in the Universal Declaration. Many have died in the
pursuit of these ideals.
Today is also the day to reflect upon our individual and
collective failures to stand up against violence, racism, xenophobia,
torture, repression of unpopular views and injustices of all sorts.
In today's growing divisions between the rich and the
poor, the powerful and the vulnerable, the technologically advanced and the
illiterate, the aggressors and the victims, the relevance of the Declaration
and the universality of the enshrined rights need to be loudly reaffirmed.
In the course of this year, unprecedented efforts must be
made to ensure that every person in the world can rely on just laws for his
or her protection. In advancing all human rights for all, we will move
towards the greatest fulfilment of human potential, a promise which is at the
heart of the Universal Declaration.
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