75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The UN Human Rights Office has organised a High-Level Event on 11 and 12 December at the Palais des Nations of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which constitutes a milestone in the history of humanity.
Adopted on 10 December 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly with the desire to avoid a repetition of the atrocities committed during the Second World War, the UDHR was defined by Eleanor Roosevelt, who was its greatest inspiration, as “the Magna Carta of humanity”.
The Declaration with its preamble and its 30 articles affirms the inalienable dignity of each member of the human family and the commitment to ensuring respect for all the freedoms set forth without distinction or discrimination of any kind, establishing fundamental and universal rights, both civil and political, such as, for example, the right to life, to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the right not to be tortured or receive degrading and inhuman treatment, and both economic, social and cultural such as the right to health, food, education, drinking water, home, work and the right to science and culture.
The UDHR represents the cornerstone of the international system of human rights protection and has given rise to legally binding documents such as the various conventions at international and regional level, also inspiring the Constitutions and national laws of the various States.
But where are we today? Despite the progress made, human rights violations continue to be widespread around the world. Although the Declaration of Human Rights emphasizes the right to seek asylum, millions of people fleeing armed conflict, persecution and poverty who seek refuge in foreign countries often face harsh treatment and hostility or death. In many parts of the world, people are deprived of basic economic and social rights, including the right to quality education, decent work, water, and adequate healthcare. The most vulnerable communities around the world are disproportionately impacted by climate change; inequalities have increased, conflicts and military spending have increased and the current conflict in Ukraine has brought back a climate of cold war.
From the privileged geopolitical observatory, namely the United Nations in Geneva, we note how the ideological and cultural gap between Member States is increasing with the tendency to select some rights to the detriment of others. As APG23, we are committed, among our different priorities, to advancing the so-called solidarity rights, such as the right to development, the right to peace, the right to a healthy environment and to recognizing the right of international solidarity.
The 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights offers us an opportunity to reflect and renew our commitment. It is a call to action to create a more just and supportive word.
(Author: Maria Mercedes Rossi)
