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Edited story / UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk opens the two day event in Geneva marking the 75th anniversary UDHR
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I
know.
No, no, no.
OK.
In the ashes of global warfare,
it brought hope
to put an end to cycles of bloodshed.
It promised justice.
It promised development
that would be secure,
equitable, inclusive.
It set out the path to peace.
But alongside the progress
that has transformed many of our societies,
there have also been numerous failures to uphold
human rights over the past 75 years.
We live among such failures today
with the turmoil and suffering that they produce
war.
My thoughts go to the millions of people suffering unbearably
in the occupied Palestinian territory, notably Gaza
and Israel
in Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and so many other places. Famine,
oppressive and hateful. Discrimination,
repression and persecution.
Threats to human rights generated by climate change, pollution
and biodiversity loss.
It was drawn up at a time of horror
after the most monstrous mass killing of the world
has ever known in the form of the Holocaust
and with the knowledge
that total destruction was growing closer,
it has demonstrated
its power and efficacy over decades. It bridges every sector of government
and field of human endeavour
at a time of so little solidarity and so much divisive and short sighted vision.
I view it as a call to overcome polarisation,
a call to work with courage and principles together
to resolve the huge challenges that we face
oppressive
and hateful discrimination,
repression,
a call to hark back to the spirit
that led every member state to adopt the Universal Declaration
and to base local, national
and global decisions across all areas of policy
on the intrinsic and equal value of every human life.
Thank you.