Secretary-General, at Exhibit Opening, Says Actors, Musicians, Artists, People

of Conscience Needed to Stand Up for Human Rights, against Abuse

 

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the opening of the exhibit “Facing Nations”, at Headquarters in New York, 15 November:

I thank the Government and Permanent Mission of Austria for bringing us together for this exhibition.  This is actually my second time seeing it.  The first was at the opening in Vienna last year.  These faces are starting to look very familiar.  I think I recognize some old friends from when I was posted in Austria!

This panorama of ordinary individuals does much more than showcase the many different nationalities of people living in Graz.  It reminds us of the rich tapestry that can be found in just a single city, the remarkable variety that is the hallmark of humankind, the diversity that is one of our greatest strengths as a global society.

At the same time, these people of many nationalities evoke our common humanity, our shared claim to a life of dignity and justice.  The artist, Oskar Stocker, has captured in these different faces the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We are pleased to display these images at our Headquarters in New York.  Here, too, we have a wonderful spectrum of people, each with their unique skills and perspectives — yet all of them committed to pooling their talents for the common good.

I also welcome this project’s efforts to promote human rights through the arts.  Certainly we need diplomats, activists, lawyers and officials to take up this cause.  But we also need actors, musicians, artists and all people of conscience to stand up for human rights and against abuse.  Thank you again to all involved in making this exhibition possible.

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For information media • not an official record