75 years of human rights - Call for more solidarity and reparations
On the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights defenders, diplomats and UN representatives recalled existing challenges. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for more solidarity worldwide. "The authors of the Universal Declaration overcame geopolitical disputes and economic differences," he said. "They put aside many terrible disputes to write this enlightening text that illuminates the path to peace, justice and freedom."
Demand for reparations
In panel discussions, representatives of indigenous peoples and independent UN experts denounced the growing gap between rich and poor between countries and within societies. As a result, human rights remain a pipe dream for many people. The issue of reparations - the financial compensation of damages - must remain on the table: in connection with colonial crimes, but also with man-made climate change, for which for decades almost only the western industrialized countries have been responsible with their greenhouse gas emissions.
Commemoration of war victims
The declaration had inspired liberation movements, said Türk. At the same time, its values had been betrayed too often. "My thoughts are with the millions of people who are suffering unbearably, in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially Gaza, in Israel, in Sudan, in Ukraine, in Myanmar and in many other places." He began the event with a minute's silence for victims of human rights violations.
The declaration, which was adopted on December 10, 1948 by the then members of the newly founded United Nations, is considered a milestone in social development. In 30 articles, it stipulates, among other things, the freedom and equality of all people as well as freedom of expression and assembly and protection against state arbitrariness. The declaration was formulated by a committee with representatives from numerous countries, including China. The chair was Eleanor Roosevelt. Her late husband Franklin D. Roosevelt had been US President from 1933 to 1945. The German Basic Law adopted in 1949 with its first article ("Human dignity is inviolable") is based directly on the Declaration.
Germany promises: human rights as a priority
The UN Human Rights Office had called for pledges to better protect human rights. Dozens responded to the call, including countries in which human rights are poorly respected according to UN reports. The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights, Luise Amtsberg, said that human rights were the basis of German foreign policy. The German government promised in writing to address challenges in the area of human rights as a priority in bilateral political dialogs.
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- Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized the historical significance of reparations, stating that the authors of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights set aside their geopolitical disputes and economic differences to focus on promoting peace, justice, and freedom.
- During panel discussions at the event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international experts and representatives of indigenous peoples highlighted the need for solidarity and reparations to bridge the growing gap between rich and poor nations and societies.
- As part of the commemoration, Volker Türk paid tribute to the victims of human rights violations around the world, including those suffering in conflict zones such as the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel, Sudan, Ukraine, and Myanmar, by leading a moment of silence in their memory.
- In Switzerland, UN representative Volker Türk praised the German government's commitment to prioritizing human rights in its foreign policy, with the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights, Luise Amtsberg, pledging to address human rights challenges in bilateral political dialogs in writing.
Source: www.stern.de
