NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS FORMER INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS PAY TRIBUTE TO FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS FORMER INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS PAY TRIBUTE TO FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a marble plaque will be unveiled by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at noon on Thursday, 17 December, at Headquarters. The plaque is a donation from the Association of Former International Civil Servants, on behalf of the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants.

The marble plaque, which measures approximately 12 inches by 10 inches, will be placed in the Eleanor Roosevelt corner of the United Nations garden, its northeast section, at the base of the large stone bearing the human rights flame.

The idea of a plaque originated with the Association's non-governmental organization Information Committee, which noted that nowhere in that area of the United Nations garden is there mention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Association felt that the plaque would pay homage to the Universal Declaration, to all United Nations personnel who have worked through the years to promote the Declaration and to Mrs. Roosevelt, whose tireless efforts helped create the Universal Declaration.

George Sadler, current President of the Association, will present the plaque to the Secretary-General. The unveiling of the plaque during the observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration also acknowledges the rights of all civil servants worldwide and pays tribute to those staff who have lost their lives fighting for the human rights of others. It is also an opportunity to focus attention on the safety of international civil servants today.

Delegations, staff, non-governmental organizations and media are invited to attend the unveiling ceremony.

For further information, contact: Shala Mokgethi, Development and Human Rights Section, United Nations Department of Public Information; tel: (212) 963-8104.

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