Event
Wednesday, December 15
Judith Gough, British Ambassador to Georgia made a speech on behalf of the Embassies and the EU Delegation. Please follow the link to read HMA’s.
Speech by H.E. Judith Gough to mark Human Rights Day at Europe House
Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues,
I would like to welcome you on behalf of the Embassies of France, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Delegation of the European Union. I am also delighted that the Georgian Human Rights Ombudsman has been able to join us for today’s event. I must also mention the Council of Europe who have supported today by providing the excellent photo exhibition and other material.
To get so many international organisations to come together for one event is always a challenge. But we share a common desire to protect, promote, and uphold Human Rights.
Today is the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Declaration is as relevant today, as it was following World War II. In contemporary times we have seen the repetition of barbarous acts that were meant to be consigned to the history books. Many today still live in fear and under oppression. Even the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains an unachieved goal.
The theme for this year is “Human Rights Defenders who act to end discrimination”. Human Rights Defenders are individuals and groups, such as NGO workers, lawyers, journalists, trade unionists, and private individuals who work to strengthen respect for human rights in their countries and speak out against abuse and violations. They exist in Georgia, and many are here today. But they also play an important role in countries such as my own. For no country is perfect. All countries require scrutiny, and no country is above criticism.
It is important the world over to create an enabling environment for Human Rights Defenders. We cannot afford to become complacent, whilst we face evolving challenges such as terrorism, conflict, and the recent economic crisis.
2008 brought to the fore some of the challenges that Georgia faces. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. IDPs have the right of return, but also the right to live in a dignified manner. Governments have the responsibility to promote the development of friendly relations between countries.
We have many tools at our disposal for the protection and promotion of Human Rights - the activity of Human Rights Defenders, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and reporting such as the US State Department’s Annual Human Rights Report. The EU places real value in its programme of Human Rights Dialogues, and engages Georgia on a biannual basis. There are also invaluable mechanisms such as the UN Human Rights Council Periodic Review - Georgia will be reviewed in early 2011.
Institutions such as the Ombudsman’s Office, Parliament, and the Judiciary are key pillars in the protection and promotion of Human Rights, and the reform of such institutions in Georgia needs to continue.
Georgia has seen significant reform since the Rose Revolution, and has ratified a number of key conventions. We will continue to encourage the implementation of such conventions, and look forward to further efforts to promote media freedom, reform prisons, and ensure that values such as workers rights, property rights, and equality are upheld. This will require leadership, tough decisions, and accountability for when things go wrong.
The challenges are many, but we should also recognise that there have been many successes since 1948. This is largely down to the dedicated work of people such as you, who are here this evening.
I would now like to propose a toast to Georgia’s Human Rights Defenders.
Thank you.