[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2041-E2042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 REMARKS OF UN DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL LOUISE FRECHETTE AT RECEPTION 
 MARKING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the 
signature of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was 
proclaimed on December 10, 1948, after its adoption by the General 
Assembly of the United Nations without a dissenting vote.
  Mr. Speaker, the Universal Declaration sets forth fundamental human 
rights for women and men everywhere, and it is ``a common standard of 
achievement for all peoples and all nations.'' It has become the most 
widely accepted international statement of fundamental human rights. It 
is frequently referred to in resolutions and covenants adopted by 
international organizations, in multilateral and bilateral treaties, 
and in laws and decrees of many nations.
  Earlier this year, this House adopted H. Con. Res. 185, a resolution 
which I introduced with the support of our colleagues John Edward 
Porter of Illinois, the co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights 
Caucus, and Christopher Smith of New Jersey, the Chairman of the 
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights of the House 
Committee on International Relations. That resolution notes the 
important 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
this year and recommits the United States to the principles expressed 
in the Universal Declaration.
  Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the distinguished Deputy Secretary 
General of the United Nations, Louise Frechette, represented the United 
Nations and spoke at a reception here on Capitol Hill in honor of the 
50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The 
reception was given by the United Nations in cooperation with the 
Congressional Human Rights Caucus. On that occasion, Mr. Speaker, Mme. 
Frechette delivered an excellent statement.

[[Page E2042]]

  Louise Frechette has had a distinguished diplomatic career in her 
native country of Canada. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Secretary 
General of the United Nations, Mme. Frechette served as the Deputy 
Defense Minister of Canada and played a particularly important role in 
Canada's participation in a number of United Nations peacekeeping 
operations.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that Mme. Frechette's speech be included in the 
Record, and I urge my colleagues to give it careful and thoughtful 
attention.

Deputy Secretary-General Stresses United Nations Duty to Translate into 
           Practice Organization's Commitment to Human Rights

       I would like, at the outset, to extend the appreciation of 
     all of us in the United Nations system for the commendable 
     work of the Human Rights Caucus in focusing the attention of 
     Congress on human rights and violations of those rights 
     around the world.
       In this fiftieth anniversary year of the Universal 
     Declaration of Human Rights, that focus has never been more 
     important. The world is changing: modern technology, 
     communications and open borders have led to a movement and 
     exchange of ideas on a scale never seen before. Those nations 
     which fail to uphold basic principles of acceptable behavior 
     can no longer hide behind their borders.
       For the United Nations, that makes all the more compelling 
     our duty to translate into practice our commitment to human 
     rights. For decades, the primary focus in human rights was on 
     establishing international norms and standards. That work was 
     largely successful.
       In the 1990s, the emphasis has shifted to implementation. 
     Human rights monitors are often attached to peacekeeping 
     operations. We run advisory services to strengthen the 
     judiciary. Special rapporteurs are investigating torture, 
     child labor and child prostitution, religious intolerance and 
     violence against women. I am pleased to report that we now 
     have more staff working on human rights in the field than at 
     Headquarters.
       And, of course, the United Nations provides global 
     leadership on human rights in the person of Mary Robinson, 
     who, as High Commissioner for Human Rights, has raised the 
     profile of the issue around the world.
       Hand in hand with human rights come issues of 
     democratization and good governance. Increasingly across the 
     world, it has become an established norm that military coups 
     by self-appointed juntas against democratically-elected 
     governments are simply not acceptable. The United Nations is 
     receiving more requests for electoral assistance than ever 
     before. In the past five years, we had no fewer than 80 such 
     requests. The United Nations helps teams of international 
     observers assess the legitimacy of an electoral process and 
     its outcome. We guide, monitor and sometimes run elections in 
     various countries.
       The Declaration of Human Rights is not a legally binding 
     document. Yet, it has been a fundamental source of 
     inspiration for national and international efforts to protect 
     and promote human rights and freedoms.
       The main principles of the Declaration have inspired the 
     constitutions of many countries which have become independent 
     since it was written. Conceived as a ``common standard of 
     achievement for all peoples and all nations'' the Declaration 
     has become a yardstick by which to measure the respect for, 
     and compliance with, international human rights standards.
       The first article of the Declaration is quite simple. Let 
     me quote it to you ``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.''
       Nobody personified that spirit of brotherhood better than 
     Raoul Wallenberg. That fact was acknowledged here in 
     Washington 17 years ago yesterday, when Wallenberg became the 
     third foreigner to be given honorary citizenship of this 
     country--thanks to legislation written by you, Congressman 
     [Tom] Lantos.
       Wallenberg's life and achievements highlighted the vital 
     difference an individual can make amidst conflict and 
     suffering. His intervention gave hope to victims, encouraged 
     them to fight and resist, to hang on and bear witness.
       Remembering his life should be an inspiration for others to 
     act; for future generations to act; for all of us to act.
       Congressman Lantos, I know that you owe much to Raoul 
     Wallenberg. But I also know we owe much to you, to your 
     indefatigable work in the cause of human rights and in 
     keeping his legacy alive. You, like him, provide an example 
     to us all.
       And the work of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus 
     provides an invaluable example of what can be achieved when 
     we join forces to achieve common goals. Such partnerships 
     strengthen immeasurably the work of governments and the 
     United Nations.
       For although the United Nations is an association of 
     sovereign States, the rights it exists to uphold and defend 
     belong to people.
       It follows that people everywhere have a responsibility to 
     speak up for those rights, whenever they see them threatened, 
     wherever they know them to be violated. For your work in that 
     regard, I thank you all.

     

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