Statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanethem Pillay on the Commemoration by the General Assembly of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

New York,
10 December 2008


Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am profoundly honoured to be here for this commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Six decades ago, on this day, the General Assembly proved that the ostensibly unachievable was, in fact, attainable. It affirmed the force of ideas and a vision of respectful and peaceful coexistence in the aftermath of utter brutality and destruction.
Indeed, I cannot think of a better place than this hall to mark such a defining moment in human history. And I cannot think of a better way to begin my address than by reciting Article 1 of the Universal Declaration which states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
These words resonate today as widely and as movingly as they did in 1948. They speak with timeless and unalterable force of both the power of rights and of our kinship in rights.
The power of rights made it possible for an ever expanding number of people to claim freedom, equality, justice, and wellbeing. Thanks to the Universal Declaration, all human rights—civil, political, economic, social, and cultural—were recognized as inherent and inalienable entitlements of all people, rather than privileges magnanimously bestowed upon them or denied to them at the caprice of the powerful.
The Universal Declaration made manifest the relation between fundamental freedoms and social justice, and the connection of both these elements with peace and security. It gave impulse to a wide and growing legal architecture, as well as advocacy vehicles for the promotion and the protection of all rights.
Today, the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration have found an echo in the Constitutions and laws of more than 90 countries. Dedicated international, regional and national mechanisms, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council with its independent experts, have been put in place to be both the custodian and the monitors of human rights, their promotion and protection. Civil society everywhere exerts vigilance over rights implementation with growing capacity and influence.
Excellencies,
Reiterating the natural and social bonds of human destiny anywhere, that is, our kinship in rights, the Universal Declaration insisted on our common claim to a life in dignity, on our right to count and be counted irrespective of our ancestry, gender and colour, status and creed. It envisaged a world in which every man, woman and child lives free from hunger, and protected from oppression, violence and discrimination, with the benefits of housing, health care, education and opportunity. This encapsulates the global culture of human rights we strive towards, and it should therefore be a unifying rather than divisive force, within and among all cultures.
Sadly, such vision—from its earliest formulations to our days— continues to be undermined by repression, discrimination and inequality. We cannot forget, and Nelson Mandela has reminded us, that the Universal Declaration was adopted only a few months after the formation of the first apartheid government. But, as he said, the Universal Declaration gave hope to the oppressed in the darkest moment of their existence. It was, as Mandela put it, “a shining beacon and an inspiration to many millions of South Africans. It was proof that they were not alone, but rather part of a great global movement against racism and colonialism, for human rights, peace and justice.”
His words ring true for all who still suffer from human rights violations. I grew up in apartheid South Africa as a second-class citizen, but in the course of my life I had the privilege to see and experience a complete transformation in my country. South Africa now has one of the strongest constitutions in the world, and while it struggles as many countries do to turn legal rights into reality, watching such amazing change over a single decade and through a relatively peaceful evolution gives me great hope. I stand before you today as a living testimony of rights realized.
At the same time, I am acutely aware that for too many people in the world, the Universal Declaration remains an unfulfilled promise, as the political will to give effect to States’ human rights obligations lags lamentably behind their pledges. We live in a world where crimes against humanity are ongoing, where mass rape and murder continue with impunity, and where the most basic economic rights critical to survival are not realized and often not even accorded the urgency they warrant.
The Universal Declaration wisely chose not to rank rights. On the contrary, it recognized the equal status of political and civil rights with economic, social and cultural rights. It did so because all rights are inextricably linked. Violations of a set of rights reverberate on other rights and enfeeble them all. As the Secretary-General noted, the recent food emergencies, the degradation of the natural environment, the current financial crisis and the unrest that they engender all underscore that those who are at the frontlines of hardship are also likely to be the victims of the ripple effects of human rights violations.
With this in mind, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is of singular importance. Approved by the Human Rights Council in June and by the Third Committee last month, the Optional Protocol is now before the plenary session for final adoption. Closing a historic gap in human rights protection under the international system, the Optional Protocol represents a veritable milestone. It will move us closer to the unified vision of human rights of the Universal Declaration. Importantly, it will enable victims to seek justice for violations of their economic, social and cultural rights at the international level for the first time.
Mr. President,
Charles Malik of Lebanon, one of the Declaration’s co-drafters pointed out that the Universal Declaration was never intended to be a mere catalogue of hopes, ringing in rhetoric, but limping in deeds. It was intended to end brutality and destruction, to protect the human rights of his and of future generations.
Sixty years after its passage, despite many advances in the legal elaboration of its principles and despite progress on many fronts, the promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have yet to be realized for most people in the world. The challenge facing us is the implementation of these rights on the ground.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? ... In small places, close to home." Until these rights touch the lives of every man, woman and child everywhere, our work is not done. As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, I pledge, and the Secretary-General has personally assured me of his full support, to do everything we can to give full effect to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I hope you will join me in this effort.
Thank you.