SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENTS TO VIENNA PANEL ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW IN SOCIETIES IN TRANSITION
Press Release
SG/SM/6615
HR/4374
SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENTS TO VIENNA PANEL ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW IN SOCIETIES IN TRANSITION
19980626 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to a panel discussion in Vienna on 27 June on Human Rights and the rule of law in societies in transition [embargoed until 9 a.m. EDT Saturday, 27 June]:It is an honour for me to welcome you to this panel discussion to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fifth anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights.
I am also honoured that four such distinguished individuals have accepted my invitation to join us as panellists for this discussion on the role of human rights and the rule of law in societies in transition: President Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Wole Soyinka and Yelena Bonner -- all of whom have worked tirelessly to uphold and defend the universality of human rights in societies across the world. And we are privileged to have with us the Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Austria.
In any part of the world that has witnessed great change - whether it be here in the heart of Europe, or in my own continent of Africa - respect for human rights and the security of the individual have proven to be vital in ensuring a smooth transition to a democratic society. How to achieve the rule of law with full respect for human rights is a complex challenge - a challenge into which I know our panellists will give us some valuable insights.
It has been said that the rule of law is not about rules and not even necessarily about laws. It is certainly not about establishing a strict legal regime.
At its best, the rule of law is about society's acceptance of certain standards of behaviour without the use of extreme measures of enforcement.
A good legal regime is both protective of human rights and effective in preventing criminal behaviour. In a perfect society, of course, we would not
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require any laws. Unfortunately, as we approach the new millennium, we see no Utopian societies. Instead, we see a recurrence of genocide, the victimization of minorities and weaker members of society, and a surge in transnational crime, drug abuse and illicit trafficking. We see States being challenged and traditional structures undermined.
Societies in conflict, societies that have suffered economic, social and political upheaval, societies that have little or no experience of the democratic rule of law - these are also the societies where the challenge to establish respect for human rights is the greatest.
The individuals who have joined our panel today have vast experience of such societies; each has contributed to the creation of democratic societies under the rule of law.
We in the United Nations have also learned an important lesson from our peacekeeping operations: that our Security Council mandates must provide for human-rights monitoring and for the strengthening of institutions. Only then can we hope to achieve the establishment of the rule of law in post-conflict situations.
That issue has been the subject of discussion over the past two days by a panel of distinguished experts. Before we hear their recommendations, let me express my appreciation to Pino Arlacchi and the Austrian Federal Government for organizing this event.
I would now like to give the floor to Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights.
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