History of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, United Nations General Assembly, 26 September 2018 That is the best tribute we can pay to those who, seventy years ago, drafted a Universal Declaration amidst the ruins of a global conflict that had devastated Europe.Īs we meet here today, we solemnly state that the universalist achievements of 1948 are our heritage, a ‘common good’ for humankind that we are prepared to defend and determined to foster. We recall our commitment to the international system promoting human rights, to the power of the rule of law, and to the multilateral institutions. That is why France is putting forward a candidacy for a seat on the Human Rights Council for 2021-2023.
The Office of the High Commissioner and the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, which France has supported since their creation, are also essential in promoting and implementing these achievements. We also need to strengthen the space dedicated to human rights in all the areas of action of the United Nations. France also encourages all States who have not yet done so to accede to the Rome Statute. The priority for France is first to recreate a space in the law to protect human rights.įrance will support the activities of the International Criminal Court in investigating crimes committed against the Rohingya – crimes that may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Ensuring the respect of these rights is one of the founding principles of the French Republic and is at the core of its foreign policy. France’s Commitment to Human Rightsįrance is working tirelessly to defend the universality and primacy of human rights. They are commitments with a universal scope, principles of law guaranteed by solemn declarations or legally binding treaties. Respecting human rights is not a political choice but a legal obligation. The 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides an opportunity to recall that human rights are not “values” that need to be adapted to local cultures and identities. Even at the United Nations, some States have been questioning the primacy and universality of human rights. The space granted to freedoms and civil society is shrinking considerably in many countries. Serious violations are multiplying in conflict areas, targeting women and people who belong to ethnic, religious and sexual minorities in particular. The 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated on 10 December 2018 at a troubling time.
0 kommentar(er)
