|
|
IT IS TIME TO RETURN TO THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Irene Khan
DECEMBER 2008 (IPS) - Terrorists go on a rampage of senseless killing in Mumbai. Exhausted
and terrified refugees pour into Uganda to escape the fighting in
eastern Congo. Ten people are executed in Iran. Three hundred thousand
civilians are displaced in northern Sri Lanka. Slowing rates of
economic growth cast deep gloom around the world. Not a particularly
auspicious moment to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, writes Irene Khan, Secretary General of
Amnesty International.
Anniversaries are a time for reflection and review. It is true that in
many respects the human rights situation today is vastly improved from
that in 1948. The equality of women, the rights of children, a free
press and a fair judicial system are no longer disputed concepts but
widely accepted standards that many countries have achieved and others
are aspiring to. But it is equally true that injustice, impunity and
inequality remain the hallmarks of our time.
In 1948, in the face of the enormous challenges, world leaders turned
to the Universal Declaration as the affirmation of their common
humanity and the blue print for their collective security. Today’s
world leaders must do the same.
THIS COLUMN IS DISTRIBUTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 60TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, DECEMBER 10.
//NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN SPAIN//
(END/2008)
|
|
|
|
|
What is RSS?
