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02 August 2000
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2 August 2000
Kennedy Foundation International Awards Ceremony
Honouring Human Dignity and Worth
Address by Mary Robinson,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Seattle, Washington 2 August 2000
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to have been invited to address you on the occasion of the international awards ceremony organised by the Kennedy Foundation.
Your invitation caused me to reflect again on that part of the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that “…the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person…”
What do we mean by that phrase “the dignity and worth of the human person”?
I think it is encapsulated in the spirit behind the awards we are witnessing this evening. It also requires close attention to language: because language itself can either re-inforce or undermine dignity and worth. I have a personal preference for the term “intellectual disabilities” which connotes for me great courage and abilities of the individual and other family members in coping with specific disabilities and living the fullest quality of life possible. In other words, being accorded full dignity and worth as a human being. However, I propose to use the terms “intellectual disabilities” and “mental retardation” interchangeably this evening, as some of you will identify with that latter term and imbue it with the same emphasis on the dignity and worth of the person concerned.
Working on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities is a lifelong task – for the relatives and carers directly involved, for the professional staff and specialists who practice in the field, for the friends and supporters of organisations such as the Kennedy Foundation who devote so much time and effort to the cause. I am reminded of President Kennedy’s saying:
“What really counts is not the immediate act of courage or valour but those who bear the struggle day in day out.”
It is right to take time on an evening such as this to pay tribute to those deserving of praise and recognition. The recipients of tonight’s awards have all displayed remarkable commitment. They are deserving of our gratitude and respect, not only for what they themselves have achieved but because they represent a spirit of dedication and service without which it would not be possible for people with intellectual disabilities to achieve their full potential.
I welcome the opportunity, as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to reaffirm the importance of placing the issue of intellectual disabilities in a human rights context. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
Equality and the related principle of non-discrimination are central to the mission of the United Nations.
I believe that one of the most hopeful developments of the age we live in is the growing acceptance of the fact that everyone in the world has certain fundamental rights – irrespective of where they live, whether they are rich or poor, what colour they are, what religion they practice, what ethnic group they belong to or what disabilities they cope with. These rights are spelled out in detail in the thirty articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They range from the right to equality before the law to the right to adequate healthcare and an adequate standard of living.
However, I am well aware that in practice many people are still unable to live full lives free from suffering, whether purposely inflicted or arising from neglect. Establishing that persons with mental retardation are entitled to the same basic human rights as the rest of the population is important. Ensuring that they actually enjoy those rights remains a major challenge. In fact, the international human rights instruments not only define the rights to which all of us are entitled, they also require governments to progressively realise human rights to the limit of available resources.
Persons with intellectual disabilities belong to the most vulnerable sections of society and, as such, are owed special care and attention by governments. But often they do not receive either. Lack of resources may be a problem in many countries but that is not the only obstacle. Even in resource rich societies adequate funding may not be made available. And it is not unusual to hear of the mentally retarded being treated callously and even cruelly and their fundamental rights abused.
International attention specifically focusing on the rights of those with disabilities is a more recent development. But the pace has been speeding up over the past decade, coinciding with our greater understanding of the issue and advances in medical science. The ground was laid by the 1971 UN Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons. Two further landmarks in the international community’s approach were, firstly, the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Healthcare, adopted by the UN in 1991. and secondly, the Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, adopted two years later.
These instruments have provided a common standard for all countries and have raised the international profile of this issue.
In 1995 the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted General Comment No 5 on the subject of Persons with Disabilities. The term “disability” was given the widest definition, being described as covering “… a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population…People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illness may be permanent or transitory in nature…” The Committee concluded that member States had paid very little attention to the rights of persons with disabilities in their reporting and agreed with the Secretary General when he said that “most governments still lack concerted measures that would effectively improve the situation of persons with disabilities.”
So what are the responsibilities of governments?
· First, there must be a clear recognition of the special needs of the most vulnerable people in our society. Some 500 million people in the world suffer from disabilities of one kind or another and their situation is not always acknowledged.
· The second point is one that I already mentioned, namely that measures must be taken to promote the realisation of the rights of those with mental retardation and other disabilities. It is not enough for governments to refrain from actions which could have a negative impact – the obligation is there to take positive action to reduce structural disadvantages and give appropriate preferential treatment to vulnerable groups so as to ensure full participation and equality.
· Third, adequate resources should be made available. That means adequate income support, access to adequate food and housing, to decent medical care and to education. Nor does the responsibility of governments end with the public sphere: there is a duty to exercise proper supervision and regulation in the private sector also, through legislation and raising awareness about the rights, the needs, the potential and the contribution of people with intellectual disabilities.
· Fourth, all forms of discrimination should be combated. There is, unfortunately, a long history of discrimination against those perceived as being “different”. The tools to fight this are, once again, a combination of legislation and awareness-building.
· Finally, particular attention should be paid to those suffering dual or multiple disability, as is often the case. And especially vulnerable people such as children require special attention, as the Convention on the Rights of the Child makes clear.
I would urge the people of the United States to give a good example to the world of how to respond to the needs of those with mental retardation. The place of the United States in the history of human rights is well known. I think of the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in your Constitution which has proved to be a model for many other nations. And I think of the key part played by Eleanor Roosevelt in the drawing up of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. National legislation to protect the rights of the mentally retarded and those with disabilities has been on the statute books in the United States for almost forty years.
But more can and should be done. There is a responsibility to ensure that all have access to facilities which can improve the quality of life. That responsibility exists towards the millions who live in poverty here in America and cannot afford proper healthcare or assistance for their loved ones.
I am glad to say that my country, Ireland, is making significant progress in this field as was demonstrated last year when Ireland received the Franklin Roosevelt International Disability Award. This award is given to a country which has made noteworthy progress towards ensuring the full participation of persons with disabilities. It was accepted at a ceremony in New York by President McAleese. Ireland has also been leading the way in international efforts to promote the cause of the human rights of persons with disabilities at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Our responsibilities extend beyond national boundaries. It is a truism to say that we live in a global village but it is the case that in this age of the information revolution we are better informed about what is happening in other parts of the world than we have ever been. We know the desperate poverty in which millions of people live. We know that clear linkages exist between poverty, malnutrition and retardation. We do have a duty towards that wider global community and we must not shirk that duty.
One shining example of international cooperation is the Special Olympics which has brought such pleasure to so many and which goes from strength to strength. As the slogan for the Special Olympics underlines, it is about more than winning, more even than competing: it is about people with disabilities being acknowledged as useful and productive citizens who are accepted and respected in their communities.
In a similar spirit, Very Special Arts has enabled those with disabilities to surprise and delight us with the depth and creativity of their abilities.
To give an example of a person with disability making a difference: a few weeks ago I met a remarkable man called Gerard Paul Fougerouse who has traveled to many parts of America highlighting the situation of people with disabilities. He has written an inspiring story about his travels called “The United States in a Wheelchair”. The reason for his visit to Geneva was to tell me that he plans to make a journey to South Africa in his wheelchair, drawing attention to and arriving for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in September 2001.
In conclusion, I would like to say that those being honoured tonight come from all of the categories of individuals who contribute to improving the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. There are the scientists and educationalists who expand the boundaries of our knowledge. There are the carers, whether relatives, friends or professionals, who deserve our gratitude but, even more, our practical support. And there are the advocates, often those with firsthand experience of loved ones affected by mental retardation. All are worthy winners.
Let me finish by quoting again from John F. Kennedy. In 1963, not long before his death, he signed into law the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Bill. He said then:
“We can say with some assurance that, although children may be victims of fate, they will not be victims of neglect.”
Those words set a standard for all of us to follow.
Thank you.
Kennedy Foundation International Awards Ceremony
Honouring Human Dignity and Worth
Address by Mary Robinson,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Seattle, Washington 2 August 2000
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to have been invited to address you on the occasion of the international awards ceremony organised by the Kennedy Foundation.
Your invitation caused me to reflect again on that part of the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that “…the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person…”
What do we mean by that phrase “the dignity and worth of the human person”?
I think it is encapsulated in the spirit behind the awards we are witnessing this evening. It also requires close attention to language: because language itself can either re-inforce or undermine dignity and worth. I have a personal preference for the term “intellectual disabilities” which connotes for me great courage and abilities of the individual and other family members in coping with specific disabilities and living the fullest quality of life possible. In other words, being accorded full dignity and worth as a human being. However, I propose to use the terms “intellectual disabilities” and “mental retardation” interchangeably this evening, as some of you will identify with that latter term and imbue it with the same emphasis on the dignity and worth of the person concerned.
Working on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities is a lifelong task – for the relatives and carers directly involved, for the professional staff and specialists who practice in the field, for the friends and supporters of organisations such as the Kennedy Foundation who devote so much time and effort to the cause. I am reminded of President Kennedy’s saying:
“What really counts is not the immediate act of courage or valour but those who bear the struggle day in day out.”
It is right to take time on an evening such as this to pay tribute to those deserving of praise and recognition. The recipients of tonight’s awards have all displayed remarkable commitment. They are deserving of our gratitude and respect, not only for what they themselves have achieved but because they represent a spirit of dedication and service without which it would not be possible for people with intellectual disabilities to achieve their full potential.
I welcome the opportunity, as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to reaffirm the importance of placing the issue of intellectual disabilities in a human rights context. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
Equality and the related principle of non-discrimination are central to the mission of the United Nations.
I believe that one of the most hopeful developments of the age we live in is the growing acceptance of the fact that everyone in the world has certain fundamental rights – irrespective of where they live, whether they are rich or poor, what colour they are, what religion they practice, what ethnic group they belong to or what disabilities they cope with. These rights are spelled out in detail in the thirty articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They range from the right to equality before the law to the right to adequate healthcare and an adequate standard of living.
However, I am well aware that in practice many people are still unable to live full lives free from suffering, whether purposely inflicted or arising from neglect. Establishing that persons with mental retardation are entitled to the same basic human rights as the rest of the population is important. Ensuring that they actually enjoy those rights remains a major challenge. In fact, the international human rights instruments not only define the rights to which all of us are entitled, they also require governments to progressively realise human rights to the limit of available resources.
Persons with intellectual disabilities belong to the most vulnerable sections of society and, as such, are owed special care and attention by governments. But often they do not receive either. Lack of resources may be a problem in many countries but that is not the only obstacle. Even in resource rich societies adequate funding may not be made available. And it is not unusual to hear of the mentally retarded being treated callously and even cruelly and their fundamental rights abused.
International attention specifically focusing on the rights of those with disabilities is a more recent development. But the pace has been speeding up over the past decade, coinciding with our greater understanding of the issue and advances in medical science. The ground was laid by the 1971 UN Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons. Two further landmarks in the international community’s approach were, firstly, the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Healthcare, adopted by the UN in 1991. and secondly, the Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, adopted two years later.
These instruments have provided a common standard for all countries and have raised the international profile of this issue.
In 1995 the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted General Comment No 5 on the subject of Persons with Disabilities. The term “disability” was given the widest definition, being described as covering “… a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population…People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illness may be permanent or transitory in nature…” The Committee concluded that member States had paid very little attention to the rights of persons with disabilities in their reporting and agreed with the Secretary General when he said that “most governments still lack concerted measures that would effectively improve the situation of persons with disabilities.”
So what are the responsibilities of governments?
· First, there must be a clear recognition of the special needs of the most vulnerable people in our society. Some 500 million people in the world suffer from disabilities of one kind or another and their situation is not always acknowledged.
· The second point is one that I already mentioned, namely that measures must be taken to promote the realisation of the rights of those with mental retardation and other disabilities. It is not enough for governments to refrain from actions which could have a negative impact – the obligation is there to take positive action to reduce structural disadvantages and give appropriate preferential treatment to vulnerable groups so as to ensure full participation and equality.
· Third, adequate resources should be made available. That means adequate income support, access to adequate food and housing, to decent medical care and to education. Nor does the responsibility of governments end with the public sphere: there is a duty to exercise proper supervision and regulation in the private sector also, through legislation and raising awareness about the rights, the needs, the potential and the contribution of people with intellectual disabilities.
· Fourth, all forms of discrimination should be combated. There is, unfortunately, a long history of discrimination against those perceived as being “different”. The tools to fight this are, once again, a combination of legislation and awareness-building.
· Finally, particular attention should be paid to those suffering dual or multiple disability, as is often the case. And especially vulnerable people such as children require special attention, as the Convention on the Rights of the Child makes clear.
I would urge the people of the United States to give a good example to the world of how to respond to the needs of those with mental retardation. The place of the United States in the history of human rights is well known. I think of the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in your Constitution which has proved to be a model for many other nations. And I think of the key part played by Eleanor Roosevelt in the drawing up of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. National legislation to protect the rights of the mentally retarded and those with disabilities has been on the statute books in the United States for almost forty years.
But more can and should be done. There is a responsibility to ensure that all have access to facilities which can improve the quality of life. That responsibility exists towards the millions who live in poverty here in America and cannot afford proper healthcare or assistance for their loved ones.
I am glad to say that my country, Ireland, is making significant progress in this field as was demonstrated last year when Ireland received the Franklin Roosevelt International Disability Award. This award is given to a country which has made noteworthy progress towards ensuring the full participation of persons with disabilities. It was accepted at a ceremony in New York by President McAleese. Ireland has also been leading the way in international efforts to promote the cause of the human rights of persons with disabilities at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Our responsibilities extend beyond national boundaries. It is a truism to say that we live in a global village but it is the case that in this age of the information revolution we are better informed about what is happening in other parts of the world than we have ever been. We know the desperate poverty in which millions of people live. We know that clear linkages exist between poverty, malnutrition and retardation. We do have a duty towards that wider global community and we must not shirk that duty.
One shining example of international cooperation is the Special Olympics which has brought such pleasure to so many and which goes from strength to strength. As the slogan for the Special Olympics underlines, it is about more than winning, more even than competing: it is about people with disabilities being acknowledged as useful and productive citizens who are accepted and respected in their communities.
In a similar spirit, Very Special Arts has enabled those with disabilities to surprise and delight us with the depth and creativity of their abilities.
To give an example of a person with disability making a difference: a few weeks ago I met a remarkable man called Gerard Paul Fougerouse who has traveled to many parts of America highlighting the situation of people with disabilities. He has written an inspiring story about his travels called “The United States in a Wheelchair”. The reason for his visit to Geneva was to tell me that he plans to make a journey to South Africa in his wheelchair, drawing attention to and arriving for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in September 2001.
In conclusion, I would like to say that those being honoured tonight come from all of the categories of individuals who contribute to improving the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. There are the scientists and educationalists who expand the boundaries of our knowledge. There are the carers, whether relatives, friends or professionals, who deserve our gratitude but, even more, our practical support. And there are the advocates, often those with firsthand experience of loved ones affected by mental retardation. All are worthy winners.
Let me finish by quoting again from John F. Kennedy. In 1963, not long before his death, he signed into law the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Bill. He said then:
“We can say with some assurance that, although children may be victims of fate, they will not be victims of neglect.”
Those words set a standard for all of us to follow.
Thank you.