NEED FOR RENEWED COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL TASK OF PROTECTING AND PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS STRESSED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Release
SG/SM/6124
HR/4315
NEED FOR RENEWED COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL TASK OF PROTECTING AND PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS STRESSED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL
19961210 This is the text of the statement by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali on Human Rights Day, as delivered:I am delighted to join you on this important occasion.
On this Human Rights Day, the international community rededicates itself to the universal goal of defending fundamental freedoms and promoting basic human rights wherever they are threatened. We re-emphasize that human rights constitute one of the basic pillars of the Charter of the United Nations. They are at the core of the civilized order it enshrines. Such freedoms and rights are universal and must be the birthright of all mankind.
Peace, human rights, democracy and development are the daily work of the United Nations. All around the world, the United Nations is working hard to prevent and resolve conflict, and to offer countless millions new hope for a better and more peaceful future. Human rights are a crucial part of these efforts. We fully recognize the need for individual freedoms and individual rights to be upheld as a foundation for peace within and among nations.
But as the twentieth century draws to a close, human rights face increasing threats and new challenges. The spread of war and violence, hunger and poverty, and growing inequality all risk undermining hard-won rights and freedoms. Intolerance, racism, xenophobia, religious fanaticism and terrorism all give serious cause for concern. That is why it is now more urgent than ever for all the peoples of the world and all Member States to renew their commitment to the global task of protecting and promoting human rights.
The right to life, freedom from torture and ill treatment, equality before the law, and freedom of expression are all rights which require ever constant protection and vigilance.
Equally, our commitment to lasting development requires that the international community uphold and promote fundamental economic and social rights such as the right to food, shelter, employment, education and health care.
Over the last 50 years, the United Nations has introduced and developed a comprehensive framework for the protection of human rights. We have established precise international human rights standards. We have created ways and means of improving respect for human rights within Member States. And, where necessary and possible, we have intervened to protect victims of human rights abuses and violations.
Countless groups and thousands of individuals have turned to the United Nations human rights bodies for support against discrimination, torture, executions, disappearances, and religious and racial intolerance. And every year, individual Member States receive vital technical and educational human rights assistance.
Today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is working actively with Member States to encourage the establishment and strengthening of national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights.
To this end, the Centre for Human Rights has established an important presence in a number of Member States. In addition, the Centre is actively promoting training initiatives for members of the military, police, prison officials, lawyers and judges in countries all around the world. A global programme of human rights education has been implemented to support the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education.
Je souhaiterais, enfin, ajouter que les droits de l'homme concernent non seulement l'Organisation des Nations Unies, mais aussi l'ensemble des acteurs de la vie internationale.
En effet, l'opinion publique, les organisations non gouvernementales, les parlements, les médias constituent, eux-aussi, des garants à part entière du respect des droits de l'homme.
En de multiples occasions, ces nouveaux acteurs des relations internationales ont montré leur capacité d'alerter le monde sur des situations et sur des drames où les droits de l'homme étaient bafoués.
Ils jouent ainsi un rôle de mobilisation essentiel et témoignent de la vigilance de la Communauté internationale.
En effet, les droits de l'homme, pour s'incarner efficacement dans la réalité des peuples et des nations, doivent faire l'objet d'une attention continue.
Le regard de l'opinion publique, la détermination de chacune et de chacun, notre mobilisation collective permanente sont les meilleurs moyens de garantir la protection des individus.
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C'est par l'action conjuguée des Etats, des organisations internationales, des institutions non gouvernementales et des personnes que doit progresser la règle de droit et que doit s'élever la conscience internationale.
Ainsi, ces nouveaux acteurs internationaux peuvent contribuer à aider les Etats et les gouvernements à être plus sensibles et plus attentifs aux droits de la personne humaine.
Ils peuvent également participer à une meilleure instruction des citoyennes et des citoyens, et à une meilleure information de l'ensemble de la population sur la question des droits de l'homme et des libertés publiques.
Enfin, cette prise en charge collective de la protection des droits de l'homme constitue une contribution essentielle à la démocratisation de la vie internationale.
Nous savons bien, en effet, que le processus de démocratisation est indissociable de la protection des droits de l'homme. L'un et l'autre revêtent une dimension universelle. Ce sont des aspirations communes qui sont partagées par tous les peuples et par toutes les nations.
Et il est, plus que jamais, nécessaire que la globalisation actuelle de l'économie aille de pair avec la mondialisation de la démocratisation et du respect des droits de l'homme.
En ce jour anniversaire, c'est à ce combat au service de la personne humaine que j'invite, une fois encore, la Communauté internationale.
Car le combat pour l'homme, la femme, lenfant et pour leur dignité est celui qui justifie, à lui seul, tout notre engagement et toute notre détermination!
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