REGIONAL HEARING FOR 'MILLENNIUM ASSEMBLY' SPOTLIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS, GOOD GOVERNANCE
Press Release
GA/9558
REC/51
REGIONAL HEARING FOR 'MILLENNIUM ASSEMBLY' SPOTLIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS, GOOD GOVERNANCE
19990525 BEIRUT, 24 May (UN Information Centre) -- The future role of the United Nations concerning human rights and good governance at the threshold of a new century was the subject of discussion at this morning's session of the regional hearing in preparation for the United Nations Millennium Assembly.Organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the hearing's second day began at United Nations House at 9 a.m. with the sharing of experts presentation views, followed by an open discussion with the over 70 participants representing the civil society of the ESCWA region, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the media and academia.
The session Chairman, Mohsen Al-Ayni (Yemen), began by noting that to speak of freedom and democracy in many Arab countries should not arise from the need to keep up with international trends, but from a genuine conviction. "Human rights are upheld only when we have sound and just government", he stressed, noting that this was lacking in many countries of the region.
A panellist stressed the growing international imbalance of power, as well as new forms of human rights violations which were not addressed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted the very years the Palestinian people had been deprived of rights prerogatives. "All this has affected the United Nations and the role we would like it to play in our region in the future", another participant said. "After over 50 years, we need to first review and improve the Charter to take into consideration our new world."
"A new United Nations", another participant suggested, "requires a reform of the Security Council to include greater representation, replacing the veto system by a vote of consensus on matters related to human rights, strengthening and protecting the role and prerogatives of the Secretary- General from outside pressure."
Other proposals suggested how the United Nations could play a more active role in the region in the third millennium. The United Nations, according to participants, should begin by: increasing public awareness of human rights instruments; strengthening complaints, follow-up and
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implementation mechanisms; improving dealings with complaints; promoting human rights education; and securing greater protection from persecution for human rights activists. It was stressed that "human rights must be a thread which is waved into the culture of the country -- otherwise they remain symbolic". Many NGOs requested the United Nations to provide increased financial and moral assistance to help them promote and protect human rights.
The discussion distinguished between the non-respect of human rights by governments against their nationals and by the violation of the rights of entire peoples by foreign Powers.
Several other proposals were made, such as the inclusion of human rights in the mandate of ESCWA, and support to governments and educational institutions to promote the inclusion of human rights in academic curricula. "Rights are not given, they are acquired through various means, including education of children and of women", a participant said. It was also noted that "good governance should not be a substitute for democracy in the region".
The regional hearing will conclude today at 3 p.m. at United Nations House, Beirut.
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