Paris hosted “Human Rights for All: Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 60“ Conference

On 3-5 September 2008, the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) participated in the Conference on Reaffirming Human Rights for All: Universal Declaration at 60“, which is organized by the UN Department of Public Information/Non-governmental Organization(DPI/NGO) at the UNESCO House in Paris. The Conference marked the first time in history that it was held outside of New York, at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the place where the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948.

On behalf of the ABTTF, member of International Affairs & Lobby Group Melek Kırmacı participated in the 61. Annual DPI/NGO Conference, which attracted more than1600 NGO representatives from 65 countries, highlighted the effective ways in which civil society, in partnership with other actors, can contribute to the advancement of human rights at the international, regional, national and local levels. The Conference, which is a part of celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration which is the first universal on the basic principles of the human rights to which peoples of all nations are entitled, aimed active participation of the NGOs whether through involvement in the five roundtables, the 42 midday workshops or several breakout sessions.

The three-day Conference, which is organized by the UN DPI/NGO Department in cooperation with the Government of France and with the assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), aimed to generate grater awareness about the impact of the Universal Declaration and attended Covenants on the activities of the non-governmental organizations. The Conference is critically important in the sense that the meeting has given an opportunity for wide cross sections of the global NGO community, civil society organizations, grassroots constituencies, UN agencies and organizations, Member States, and representatives of the media, academia, the private sector and other institutions to share knowledge and experience about how best to promote and contribute to the advancement of human rights around the world.

The „universal“ and „indivisible“ character of human rights reaffirmed

On 3 September 2008, the Conference opened by the opening addresses of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the President of the 62nd Session of the General Assembly, United Nations after the UNESCO and OHCHR’s welcome. It was recalled that while the Universal Declaration had become a ubiquitous norm today, enjoyment of all human rights remained far from being achieved, and it was noted that in the era of globalization, the controversies involving human rights and so-called sovereignty issues had to be overcome. Besides, it was highlighted that there were the difficulties in the implementation of the Universal in a number of countries, although the Declaration was signed some 60 years ago.

During the conference, which included the five roundtables, the 13 breakout sessions and the 42 midday workshops, reaffirmed the human rights for all in an extensive scale, from women’s rights to the rights of the child; from the right to food to the rights of the disabled people; from struggle against discrimination to the human rights ns human security; and from human rights education to the violation of human rights. In the Conference, Article 1 of the Universal Declaration, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood” was reaffirmed by all participants.

During the Conference, the universal and indivisible character of human rights reaffirmed again and again. While stated that nation states should not try to undermine human rights due to state security concerns, the participants acknowledged that the Universal Declaration is under threat at its 60 year because states have serious concerns about the implementation of basic principles and values enshrined in the Declaration.

The UN DPI/NGO Department, which declared that it aimed to organize this event in various places of the world outside of the UN Headquarters in New York, stated that non-governmental organization had an unignored and unstopped role in the preparation of the Universal Declaration and in defense and encouragement of human rights.

On 5 September 2008, the 61st Annual Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization (DPI/NGO) Conference, dedicated to the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, closed its three-day session in Paris, providing a summary of its work and reflecting on follow-up measures to be undertaken. On the closing session, the UN Secretary-General stated that more than 1600 NGO representative reaffirmed their commitment to human rights during the all conference and highlighted that the Universal Declaration, which was signed sixty years ago, has still kept up to date and it is being perpetuated by the efforts of NGOs.

Have sent the message that human dignity is to be supported with a spirit of cooperation, participants reaffirmed that indifference is the worst enemy of the good. Expressing the views on the conference, ABTTF, concludes that nongovernmental organizations play a significant role in defense of human rights, but nation states do continue to undermine and even ignore human rights with the concern of the state security. On behalf of ABTTF, member of International Affairs and Lobby Group, Melek Kirmaci, expressed her views that, “ In Greece, which is considered to be the cradle of democracy, is a place where grassroots violation of human rights have occurred. This is why existing mechanisms and instruments in the field of human rights need to be strengthened. The Paris Conference has reaffirmed once more that NGOs are the pioneers of the change in their own societies. Struggle for human rights is a part of our daily lives. We, ABTTF, go have our own struggle for democratic rights for the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, everyday. This UN Conference has encouraged the NGOs in their daily struggle for human rights”.