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17 March 1998
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Fifty-fourth session of the Commission on Human Rights,
Geneva, 16 March - 24 April 1998
Statement by H.E. Mr. Abel Matutes,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain
Geneva, 17 March 1998
Mr.Chairman,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Madame High Commissioner,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I use my opening words,Mr. Chairman, to congratulate you very cordially on your election to preside over this new session of the Commission on Human Rights. Your election has in our view a highly simbolic meaning,at a time when we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration.During the sad,yet fortunately overcome times of apartheid regiem in your country,your vocation as atrue defenderof human rights was widely regognised and rightly deserved the respect of us all.I wish much success in performing your duties and,through you, allow me to extend my congratulations to all the members of the Bureau.
Mr. Chairman,
The Secretary of State for Human Rights of the United Kingdom has already addressed this Assembly on behalf of the European Union.Spain suscribes to his intervention fully and endorses his ideas without reservations.Along that same line of thinking and with identical purpose ,I shall simply stress some considerations that I wish to put forward.
When the text of the Universal Declaration was signed back on 10 December 1948 in Paris, the representatives of the then members of the United Nations were fully aware that they were opening a new era in international relations.
They were indeed promoting of of hte purposes of the Charter as set forth in its article one, which constitutes for us today of of the basic objectives of coexistence in peace and security within the international community: the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms the world over, witout any distinction of race,sex,language or religion.
The Declaration set out the proccess of codification of international norms and standards in this matter, as well as it initiated the vigorous and worthy efforts towards its effective enforcement. For the first time, States not only committed themselves to respect them generally, but, through later agreements, engaged themselves to ensure and preserve in any event the rights of the people under their jurisdiction. Nowadays,it is generally accepted that the principle of non-interference in internal affairs cannot be opposed in the face of a protection action of these rights by the United Nations.It is a ggod evidence that the international conscience has made substantial progress in the good direction over the last years.
We are glad that it is so and that this awareness extends to the civil and political rights and the economic,social and cultural rights alike.The Declaration and the Vienna Programme of Action of 1993 draw our attention timely to the fact that: " All human rights are universal,indivisible and interdependent and inter-related.The international community must deal with human rights in a global,just and equitable manner,on an equal footing and attaching the same importance to all of them". It is a warning which we must keep always present, expressing our firm rejection and repulse ,wherever the place and whatever the political regime that might violate them.
On this Fiftieh Anniversary, on behalf of my Goverment, I wished to re-iterateour commitment with these ideals and objectives. We adhere to this commemoration enthusiastically. Later in the afternoon an exhibition will be opened ,consisting of lithographies of Spanish and American painters, which His Majesty the King donated to the United Nations in 1984,on the occasion of the Fifth Centennial of the birth of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas,an early and passionate advocator of this cause, the progress of which these days must be our reason for pride and for hope in mankind as a whole.
Spain wants thus to recall on this occasion his contribution to making human condition more dignified,that of being unique in its individuality and by its mere existence.A worry that began in the Modern Era among the humanistic theologians of the School of Salamanca in the XVI century and that has perpetuated itself among the jurists of the XVII century, the Iberian thought of the Enlightment and the Spanish liberalism of the past century.
At the same time, at the outset of the commemoration of the sixth decade of the Universal Declaration, it seems all too fair and timely, to refer here to the reform of the now called Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. I wish to praise the efforts deployed by the former High Commissioner , Mr. José Ayala Lasso, aiming at the re-estructuring and increased effectiveness
Geneva, 16 March - 24 April 1998
Statement by H.E. Mr. Abel Matutes,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain
Geneva, 17 March 1998
Mr.Chairman,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Madame High Commissioner,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I use my opening words,Mr. Chairman, to congratulate you very cordially on your election to preside over this new session of the Commission on Human Rights. Your election has in our view a highly simbolic meaning,at a time when we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration.During the sad,yet fortunately overcome times of apartheid regiem in your country,your vocation as atrue defenderof human rights was widely regognised and rightly deserved the respect of us all.I wish much success in performing your duties and,through you, allow me to extend my congratulations to all the members of the Bureau.
Mr. Chairman,
The Secretary of State for Human Rights of the United Kingdom has already addressed this Assembly on behalf of the European Union.Spain suscribes to his intervention fully and endorses his ideas without reservations.Along that same line of thinking and with identical purpose ,I shall simply stress some considerations that I wish to put forward.
When the text of the Universal Declaration was signed back on 10 December 1948 in Paris, the representatives of the then members of the United Nations were fully aware that they were opening a new era in international relations.
They were indeed promoting of of hte purposes of the Charter as set forth in its article one, which constitutes for us today of of the basic objectives of coexistence in peace and security within the international community: the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms the world over, witout any distinction of race,sex,language or religion.
The Declaration set out the proccess of codification of international norms and standards in this matter, as well as it initiated the vigorous and worthy efforts towards its effective enforcement. For the first time, States not only committed themselves to respect them generally, but, through later agreements, engaged themselves to ensure and preserve in any event the rights of the people under their jurisdiction. Nowadays,it is generally accepted that the principle of non-interference in internal affairs cannot be opposed in the face of a protection action of these rights by the United Nations.It is a ggod evidence that the international conscience has made substantial progress in the good direction over the last years.
We are glad that it is so and that this awareness extends to the civil and political rights and the economic,social and cultural rights alike.The Declaration and the Vienna Programme of Action of 1993 draw our attention timely to the fact that: " All human rights are universal,indivisible and interdependent and inter-related.The international community must deal with human rights in a global,just and equitable manner,on an equal footing and attaching the same importance to all of them". It is a warning which we must keep always present, expressing our firm rejection and repulse ,wherever the place and whatever the political regime that might violate them.
On this Fiftieh Anniversary, on behalf of my Goverment, I wished to re-iterateour commitment with these ideals and objectives. We adhere to this commemoration enthusiastically. Later in the afternoon an exhibition will be opened ,consisting of lithographies of Spanish and American painters, which His Majesty the King donated to the United Nations in 1984,on the occasion of the Fifth Centennial of the birth of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas,an early and passionate advocator of this cause, the progress of which these days must be our reason for pride and for hope in mankind as a whole.
Spain wants thus to recall on this occasion his contribution to making human condition more dignified,that of being unique in its individuality and by its mere existence.A worry that began in the Modern Era among the humanistic theologians of the School of Salamanca in the XVI century and that has perpetuated itself among the jurists of the XVII century, the Iberian thought of the Enlightment and the Spanish liberalism of the past century.
At the same time, at the outset of the commemoration of the sixth decade of the Universal Declaration, it seems all too fair and timely, to refer here to the reform of the now called Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. I wish to praise the efforts deployed by the former High Commissioner , Mr. José Ayala Lasso, aiming at the re-estructuring and increased effectiveness