The UN agencies working in Mongolia are proud to join today the human rights community to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The global campaign to commemorate this important event is made visible in Mongolia with several public awareness initiatives carried throughout the year to reinforce the values of the Declaration as a milestone in the advancement of humanity.
The Declaration provides a common vision for a prosperous world where all human beings live in peace and dignity. The aspirations of the drafters of the Declaration are alive today, and reflected in all international human rights treaties and in the national legislation of countries worldwide. The Constitution of Mongolia carries the spirit of this common vision, and has an entire chapter devoted to the rights and freedoms of everyone to be equal in justice and dignity. Significantly, the chapter on individual rights and freedoms is placed before the provisions on the State.
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places close to home so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal dignity, without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.” These words of Eleanor Roosevelt, former President of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and co-drafter of the Universal Declaration, have even more profound meaning in today’s growing divisions between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the vulnerable, the technologically advanced and the illiterate.
As we celebrate our achievements in promoting and protecting human rights, it is important to remember that the rights of vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized groups of society are especially challenged during times of social unrest, environmental calamity and economic turmoil. It is our collective responsibility to uphold the rights of the disadvantaged when they confront hardship, indifference and abuse.
In advancing all human rights for all, we will move towards the greatest fulfillment of human potential, a promise which is at the heart of the Universal Declaration. This is why it is important for all branches of the state and all members of society to make more efforts towards the Millennium Development Goals. The additional, specific goal set by Mongolia to strengthen human rights and democratic governance represents core national values for advancing the country to the new millennium, and for addressing poverty, inequality, exclusion and other challenges faced by ordinary people in their daily lives.
The Universal Declaration and its core values- inherent human dignity, justice, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality- apply to everyone, everywhere, always. The Human Rights Day is an occasion to cherish and celebrate the achievements of humanity to promote equality in rights and dignity for all, and to reflect on all the work that still remains to be done.
For more information: www.ohchr.org and www.un.org
Contact Ms.Bayasgalan Bayarsaikhan, Public Advocacy Officer at bayasgalan.bayarsaikhan@undp.org
