OSCE, EU mark 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

VIENNA, 15 December 2008 - The Chairmanship of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Presidency of the European Union (EU), Finland and France, marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at an event in Vienna today.

Participants noted that since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been a source of inspiration and helped form some of the commitments undertaken by the OSCE participating States in the field. At the Helsinki OSCE Ministerial Council in December the participating States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the principles and values enshrined in the Declaration.

Minister Elisabeth Rehn of Finland emphasized the role of women in decision-making, adding: "In many cases women are primarily responsible for implementing negotiated agreements and sustainable solutions cannot be achieved without their involvement. The whole society profits from women's participation. It is not only an equality issue."

With respect to sexual and gender-based violence, she stressed the need to put an end to impunity: "Not one single case of gender-based violence is acceptable. We must end the impunity of the perpetrators of such crimes,"

Francois Zimeray, France's Human Rights Ambassador, expressed concern about the current situation with the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "For us, this anniversary is not a formality. We must be conscious of the fact that the universalism which lies at the heart of the Declaration is in decline."

He stressed the importance of keeping the core objectives of the Declaration in sight: "If we do not fight now to achieve the realisation of these rights and promote their teaching, those who, in ten or twenty years, will have to celebrate the 70th or 80th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights could well find themselves celebrating the anniversary of a legend."

Participants at the event discussed the situation with human rights in conflict zones, conflict prevention and post-conflict rehabilitation, the role of civil society and human rights defenders in promoting human rights in the OSCE region, as well as the accomplishments and the challenges of the OSCE in the realisation of human rights.