UN General Assembly
2001

We need institutions that ensure respect for human rights. Hence the importance of the International Criminal Court, which should serve as an key instrument for the universal protection of fundamental human rights, whatever the status of the violator. I have come from afar, from the South of the world, with an optimistic vision. Before leaving my country, I met with young people of varied origins and with dignitaries of different religions. I met with Catholic and Protestant bishops; with Jewish and Muslim representatives: all those with whom we share an annual joint religious service — unique in the world — to celebrate our national independence. I saw in all of them — Jews and Muslims; Catholics, Protestants and freethinkers — a renewed capacity for understanding and comprehension that I am sure is shared among western and eastern countries, among ethnic groups and religions — in short, among all those here today — with the objective of attaining our common objective of peace and progress. Let us learn from our experience in assembling this great global coalition to respond politically and