New York, 12-13 July
2016
Mr. President,
Since its inception, the United Nations has had a
unique role in protecting and promoting human rights throughout the world. As
we reflect on the significance of the Seventieth Anniversary of the United
Nations and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the international human rights
covenants, it is appropriate to note and celebrate how much the United Nations
has done to codify and develop international law and to establish international
human rights norms.
The ideals
enshrined in the Charter and set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights are a powerful and perennial reminder of our common humanity and of the
human solidarity that flows from it. Today more than ever, they represent a
shared patrimony that demands universal respect and observance. Wherever it
exists, respect for human dignity and human rights is a moral achievement that
must continually be received with gratitude, solidified with perseverance and
built upon in the concrete decisions that persons, societies and States make.
Mr. President,
This debate comes
at a particularly tumultuous time in which human dignity and rights are being
denied, suppressed and violated in various ways across the globe: civilians are
being targeted in war and armed conflict; persons are being trafficked for
slave labor, sex, or organs; ethnic and religious minorities are being singled
out for persecution and annihilation; human beings deemed unwanted or useless
are being discarded in what Pope Francis has termed the “throwaway culture”;
hundreds of millions of peoples risk their lives to flee from persecution and
extreme poverty; countless individuals are victims of various forms of
discrimination.
The fact that so
many are being left behind or disadvantaged because of a failure to appreciate
their dignity and rights makes this discussion today all the more important and
the actions that must follow it ever more urgent.
In order to
foster respect for human dignity and rights, it is essential to understand
their source and foundation. While it is a great sign of ethical progress that
today almost everyone speaks about human rights and dignity, many do so without
acknowledging where human dignity and rights come from. Human dignity, from
which human rights flow, is an expression of the intrinsic worth of every
person no matter what race or sex, no matter how young or old, strong or
vulnerable, healthy or handicapped, wanted or unwelcomed, economically
productive or incapacitated, influential or insignificant.
Human dignity is
inherent to every human being and to every human life, from the first moment of
conception. It is not something that we acquire when we reach a certain
physical dimension, mental ability or age, nor is it some kind of “privilege”
that can be conceded or taken away by the State, as a matter of policy. Rather,
it is intrinsic to every human being, and being antecedent to the demands of
the State, ought to be always recognized and protected by the State.
In recent years,
numerous assertions of “novel rights” have surfaced that significantly stray
from the vision of the human person, on which the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the other conventions that form international human rights
law, are grounded. Genuine human rights are inalienable and must be universally
respected and advanced. In consequence, however, the term “human right” must be
strictly and prudently applied, lest it become a rhetorical catch-all,
endlessly expanded to suit the passing tastes of the age. Such an elastic
approach would discredit and undermine the very concept of human rights. A
responsible exercise of human rights necessarily implies a faithful fulfilment
of their corresponding responsibilities. This reciprocity of rights and
responsibilities does not only apply at the level of individuals, but it also
informs the relationship of civil, legislative and judicial authorities with
citizens and civil society institutions and groups.
Mr. President,
Over the last
seventy years, the international human rights architecture has grown
substantially, and with it, the work of the United Nations in upholding and
protecting the human rights and dignity of all, especially the weakest and most
vulnerable. This deserves to be celebrated.
As we celebrate,
we must also be aware that there is still much to be done, since violations of
fundamental and inalienable human rights and widespread discriminations are
crying out for immediate relief and resolution, even as we speak.
Reviewing with
satisfaction the progress that has been made, we must continue to foster and consolidate
a culture of respect for human rights and create the conditions for future
generations to receive, protect, cherish and promote them.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
