Opening Message by Secretary-General of the United Nations to the fifty-third session of the Commission on Human Rights
10 March 1997
Geneva, 10 March 1997
On the occasion of the opening of the fifty-third session of the Commission on Human Rights, I wish to pay tribute to the continuing efforts of the international community in the field of human rights. While this gathering offers the opportunity to focus on the challenges still ahead, it is important to recognize that much has been accomplished since 1948, when the noble principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights became a point of reference for all future efforts in this domain. As Secretary-General, I will be a champion of human rights and will ensure that human rights are fully integrated in the action of the Organization in all other domains.
The end of the cold war, the World conference on Human Rights and the creation of the post of the High Commissioner for Human Rights brought major changes in the human rights work of the United Nations. New dynamics emerged within and outside the Organization. As a result, a growing alliance of efforts within the United Nations system and among governments, regional and national organizations and non-governmental organizations worldwide for the realization of basic rights and fundamental freedoms is now taking hold.
The human rights programme of the United Nations rests now on very solid foundations as a result of the leadership of the first High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. José Ayala-Lasso. The High Commissioner not only gave new and more action-oriented directions to the human rights programme -- particularly in response to emergencies and preventive action in the field of human rights -- but also started a process of reform and change at the Centre for Human Rights which is now coming to fruition.
Very important results have already been achieved which have permanently improved the ability of the United Nations human rights programme to carry out its mandated activities and to meet the expectations of the wider human rights community. I will reflect shortly in a new Organizational Manual the reforms already undertaken by Mr. Ayala-Lasso in the High Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights, with the High Commissioner as Head of Office.
As the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approaches, I call on all of you gathered here today and for the next six weeks, to renew your own determination to take action to give concrete meaning to human rights, thus contributing to the United Nations' own efforts for the realization of the Charter's vision of social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.
On the occasion of the opening of the fifty-third session of the Commission on Human Rights, I wish to pay tribute to the continuing efforts of the international community in the field of human rights. While this gathering offers the opportunity to focus on the challenges still ahead, it is important to recognize that much has been accomplished since 1948, when the noble principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights became a point of reference for all future efforts in this domain. As Secretary-General, I will be a champion of human rights and will ensure that human rights are fully integrated in the action of the Organization in all other domains.
The end of the cold war, the World conference on Human Rights and the creation of the post of the High Commissioner for Human Rights brought major changes in the human rights work of the United Nations. New dynamics emerged within and outside the Organization. As a result, a growing alliance of efforts within the United Nations system and among governments, regional and national organizations and non-governmental organizations worldwide for the realization of basic rights and fundamental freedoms is now taking hold.
The human rights programme of the United Nations rests now on very solid foundations as a result of the leadership of the first High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. José Ayala-Lasso. The High Commissioner not only gave new and more action-oriented directions to the human rights programme -- particularly in response to emergencies and preventive action in the field of human rights -- but also started a process of reform and change at the Centre for Human Rights which is now coming to fruition.
Very important results have already been achieved which have permanently improved the ability of the United Nations human rights programme to carry out its mandated activities and to meet the expectations of the wider human rights community. I will reflect shortly in a new Organizational Manual the reforms already undertaken by Mr. Ayala-Lasso in the High Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights, with the High Commissioner as Head of Office.
As the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approaches, I call on all of you gathered here today and for the next six weeks, to renew your own determination to take action to give concrete meaning to human rights, thus contributing to the United Nations' own efforts for the realization of the Charter's vision of social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.