Today we mark the beginning of the fiftieth anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In every part of the world, men, women and children of every colour and creed will gather to embrace our common human rights. Human rights are the foundation of human existence and coexistence.
Human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent.
Human rights are what make us human. They are the principles by which we create the sacred home for human dignity. When we speak of the right to life, or development, or to dissent and diversity, we are speaking of tolerance. Without it, we can be certain of none. Human rights are the expression of those traditions of tolerance in all religions and cultures that are the basis of peace and progress.