And herein our own country we have a non-racial democratic government. The language of human rights is indeed becoming a universal language and it is increasingly becoming the standard against which the world judges countries and countries judge the world. It is easy to appreciate therefore why the 50th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights has such a special significance for us here in South Africa. Because of the determined struggle of our people for their human dignity, instead of the former oppressors celebrating 50 years of apartheid rule, we are celebrating with the rest of the world four years of our new, non-racial and democratic society as a free people. Our national action plan for the protection and promotion of human rights correctly celebrates our achievements since our first non-racial democratic election.
Government is indeed proud of what it has accomplished.
But our national action plan is also a sober reminder for all of us of what still has to be done before all our people can enjoy, fully, all the fundamental freedoms and human rights in our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights let us not forget therefore the poor, the homeless, the jobless, the victims of crime and the vulnerable. Let us rededicate ourselves to ensuring that the wretched of the earth become the real inheritors of our new culture of human rights. This is the pledge that our government makes to all of our people and to the international community. On behalf of government and the people of South Africa, I now hand over our national action plan for the protection and promotion of human rights to the United Nations representative, Mr David Whaley.