ONUART concert for Human Rights Day

Statement by the High Commissioner

10 December 2016

Distinguished President,
Maestro,
Distinguished musicians,
Excellencies, Colleagues and friends,

It is a pleasure to be among you for this moment of solace and inspiration, and I thank the organisers, Mr Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra for this musical celebration of Human Rights Day.

As many of you know, the Divan brings together musicians from across the Arab world and Israel, bridging many ideological and political divisions in their joint expression of beauty, humanity and joy.

This orchestra is the living expression of our unity as human beings, and the heights we can achieve when we acknowledge each others' equality and rights. I hope the performance this evening will inspire all of us to reflect more deeply on our individual and collective responsibility to uphold that fundamental truth.

The chamber where we are seated is the home of the Human Rights Council, which embodies the world's acknowledgement that human rights build sustainable development and peace between States.

But human rights also build peace within States – between communities and individuals. This is a task greater than any institution or government. Ultimately, all of us are responsible for upholding the dignity and equality of others.

For this is our world – small, fragile and infinitely precious. It faces vast challenges, including biting inequalities and growing waves of selfish nationalism and hatred.

Together, we are stronger than those forces of humiliation, spitefulness, selfishness and violence. Together, we can resist.

Our world and our communities will only survive, and thrive, if we the peoples stand together in our marvellous diversity and offer each other justice.

Wherever there is discrimination and hatred, we can stand up for the equality of our fellow human beings. Where there is exploitation, we can seek out ways to promote dignity and justice. We can raise our voices for the basic values of decency, cooperation and respect.

Wherever we are – at work, in school, on the street, in the supermarket, in public transport – all of us encounter situations in which people are abused and afraid. We need not – indeed, we must not – stand passively by. We are not powerless. Each of us can take a stand for more humanity.

Together, we can enable people in our communities, our countries and across our planet to develop to their full potential, in equality, dignity and peace.

The time for this is now.

As we enjoy tonight's concert, we cannot forget the fear and need of millions of our fellow human beings. I offer you a solution to the terrible sensation of impotence so many of us feel:

Stand up for someone's rights today.