Marking 60th Anniversary of Rights Declaration

By Philippe Thiebaud

French Ambassador to Korea

On Dec. 10, the world celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ``Universal Declaration of Human Rights,'' adopted in Paris in 1948 by the U.N. General Assembly.

This text, though not legally binding, is a fundamental international reference in the matter of human rights protection. This anniversary is an occasion to reflect on the progress made regarding human rights protection in the world, and to renew our efforts in ensuring that these principles are respected.

France is presently holding the presidency of the European Union, and human rights are a priority of the EU.

As French President M. Nicolas Sarkozy underlined on Aug. 27, human rights are a perpetual concern. France is, because of its history, the bearer of a message on human rights. When France works for peace, she also works to defend human rights.

Wherever French troops are deployed, from Afghanistan to Ivory Coast, from Lebanon to Kosovo, it is to promote peace, democracy, liberty, and human rights protection in those countries. In terms of human rights, France's intention is not to preach, but to get results.

Since Dec. 10, 1948, many universal norms have been adopted, among which we can mention the convention against torture, the 1966 pacts on economic, social and cultural rights, as well as on civil and political rights, the convention on children's rights and the international convention to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

But many countries still have not signed or ratified these instruments. Others, such as France and the EU member states, have integrated these norms into their national rights.

As for the EU, it has recently set up the European Agency for Fundamental Rights. Its headquarters, inaugurated on March 1, are located in Vienna, Austria. Its mandate is to assist the EU's institutions to implement EU law in the matters of fundamental rights, which human rights are part of.

Within the Council of Europe, the ``European convention to safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms'' (adopted in 1950) and its control mechanism, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), is a one of a kind treaty and is part of the norms imposed upon member states of the European Union.

For its part, the EU has produced many directive lines on human rights: protection of children's rights, the abolition of the death penalty and torture, advocacy of human rights, dialogue with developing countries, and child soldiers in conflict zones. French embassies around the world are mobilized in implementing these directive lines.

France is pleading for the universal ratification of the treaties protecting human rights, for example the Statut de Rome which allowed for the creation in 2002 of the International Court of Justice to judge war criminals, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide.

As the French minister for foreign and European affairs, Bernard Kouchner has said, ``Sixty years after the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the necessity of universality and indivisibility of human rights has remained strong and relevant.''

Effort should be made on a daily basis by the international community, wherever it is possible: the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the U.N. General Assembly, during bilateral political dialogue (for example those of the EU with other countries or during contacts between European parliamentarians and others), or during multilateral dialogue such as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Of course, actions on the ground by the many dedicated NGOs must also be saluted and supported.

In this regard, we praised the adoption on Nov. 21 by the third committee of the U.N. General Assembly of a resolution on the human rights situation in North Korea. And I would like, in particular, to pay tribute to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) for its commitment to the EU to co-sponsor this text.

But I would also like to emphasize the courageous work of Korean NGOs which, on one side, try to help the North Korean population, and on the other, North Korean ``refugees'' in third countries, before they can come to South Korea.

The Seoul government attaches greatest importance to the question of respect and promotion of human rights that constitute a fundamental axis of its foreign policy and its vision of the world. The EU and South Korea share the same vision, principles and values, which are the basis of their partnership.

I hope that the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights serves as an occasion to remember this extract of its preamble: ``Recognition of the inherent dignity of all members of the human family and of their equal and inalienable rights constitutes the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.''