Dignity and Human Rights: The Missing Dialogue Introductory statement by H.E. Laura Dupuy Lasserre President of the Human Rights Council Wednesday 20th June 2012, 13:15 – 14:45 Room XXV

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here with you today. Let me start by expressing my appreciation to the organizers and in particular to the Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The importance of the concept of dignity in the field of human rights cannot be overemphasized: dignity constitutes the source or foundation and essential content of all human rights. That is why dignity holds a prominent place in the UDHR and all other core HR instruments.

The Preamble of the UDHR recognizes:
“(…) the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”,
“(…) a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people”,
“(…) the dignity and worth of the human person and (…) the equal rights of men and women (…) to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”.

UDHR article 1 establishes that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.

We all aspire to human dignity, which is not entrenched in any particular culture or religion. It constitutes the consensual basis on which the Council’s work relies on, as well as one of the most important objectives pursued by the Council.

Since its establishment, the Council has been striving, through its resolutions and various initiatives, to promote dignity for all. However, much remains to be done. There are still millions of people without adequate housing or health facilities, millions of people without access to clean water or education and with limited employment opportunities. There are also people being tortured or arbitrarily detained, individuals being unable to freely participate in political life or discriminated because of their sex, skin colour, religion or beliefs, just to mention a few plagues with which our societies are still struggling. There undoubtedly can be little dignity in living in such conditions. Sometimes human dignity may depend partially upon the availability of resources in a given country. But in most situations it is rather a matter of State policy or political will to advance human rights and fundamental freedoms in a framework which respects the rule of law. This includes economic, social, and cultural rights which should be implemented through progressive measures, according to each State’s possibilities, while reaffirming that human rights are interdependent and indivisible.

It is unacceptable to have people living in extreme poverty, with unsatisfied basic needs and being marginalized.

It is urgent to work towards gender equality and equity. Unfortunately we still see discrimination against women and girls in law and practice. There are great expectations on the new Working group on the issue of discrimination against Women in law and in practice which will present its report tomorrow to the Council. The implementation of international human rights standards still requires daily efforts for raising awareness that women’s rights are human rights. We need to work together, girls and boys, women and men, to overcome the statu quo of pressing problems, including violence in its different forms and trafficking, among others, due to different powers in society and existing stereotypes. Education should be central to all our efforts, for empowerment and to fight better for their rights and have better standards of living

Regarding the filling of gaps, in 2011, the International Labour Conference adopted a Convention and Recommendation aimed at improving the working conditions of tens of millions of domestic workers worldwide, until now forgotten, invisible. Let’s look for other gaps.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Indeed, dignity is the yardstick for an adequate standard of living or quality of life, which may only be realized if State laws and policies fully take into account and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons under its jurisdiction, without discrimination.

I thank you for your attention and wish you a fruitful discussion.