Contribution of Olivier Dupuis

Democratic countries and international institutions understand and promote human rights as universally acceptable and applicable political culture, which recognises the same rights and duties for each and every individual, no matter his or her race, religion, culture or sex.

Unfortunately, too many countries in the world still deny their citizens the fundamental rights and freedoms, thus undermining the very "legitimity" of the idea that the international law and legality - based on fundamental documents of the international community, starting with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - can be and must be respected and applied in the same way throughout the world.

For this reason, together with my friends from the Transnational Radical Party, we consider necessary to promote the creation of an Universal Court of Human, Civil and Political Rights established similarly to the European Court of Human Rights. A Court, which the citizens, associations, religious or ethnic groups and minorities, could address for recognition and realisation of their human, civil and political rights in case they were denied by their own State. We are convinced that this would enable the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to become a real international Law to respect, and not only a list of principles that the States can adhere or neglect according to their choice whenever they want.

Olivier Dupuis,

Member of European Parliament,

Secretary General of the Transnational Radical Party