Published by: World Tibet Network News Monday, November 17, 1997

14 November 1997

(Human rights apply to all peoples, Richarson says) (1740)

United Nations -- The United Nations must insure that the standards of freedom and tolerance embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights "are a reality for future generations," U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson said November 12.

In a wide-ranging speech on human rights to the General Assembly's Third Committee, Richardson said that "in the past few years human rights abuses from Bosnia to Rwanda captured the world's attention and showed us once again that the struggle for the recognition and acceptance of universal human rights is a constant process."

"We must remain resolute against those voices that suggest the Universal Declaration represents the values of only a portion of humanity," the ambassador said.

Human rights, he said, "know no geographic or ethnic boundaries."

The United Nations begins a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December.

Citing "heartening examples" as well as continuing violations, Richardson also said that:

-- Guatemala has today become a model for human rights reform;

-- the U.S. hopes the U.N. human rights mission to the Congo will help give the country the opportunity to play a constructive role in the region;

-- Cuba remains the only country in the Western Hemisphere that does not embrace democracy;

-- the human rights situation in Sudan remains deplorable;

-- Tibet suffers disproportionately from China's harsh repression;

-- widespread human rights violations continue in Burma; and

-- the U.S. insists on respect for human rights in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia.

Following is the text of the ambassador's remarks:

(begin text)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Since its earliest days, the cause of international human rights has defined the United Nations. As the world emerged from six years of bloody conflict, after witnessing the most brutal and heinous atrocities ever committed by man, the desire for a new era of peace, where the most basic human rights would be respected and upheld, informed and inspired the creators of this organization.

This year as we begin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are reminded that one of the U.N.'s greatest contributions to humankind is ensuring understanding that human rights are universal and part of the basic social compact across the globe. The commemorations planned throughout the world reaffirming and celebrating the Universal Declaration give us another opportunity to bring to the attention of all humanity the fundamental rights that are the birthright of every human being.

Of course, in the past few years human rights abuses from Bosnia to Rwanda captured the world's attention and showed us once again that the struggle for the recognition and acceptance of universal human rights is a constant process. So long as women are denied educational and economic opportunity, so long as discrimination based on religion, ethnicity or skin color continues, and so long as war criminals can elude justice, we must remain vigilant.

In addition, we must remain resolute against those voices that suggest the Universal Declaration represents the values of only a portion of humanity. The United States, which is made up of many cultures and peoples, vigorously rejects this notion. Human rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration, know no geographic or ethnic boundaries. These rights are inseparable from humanity; indeed, they apply universally -- to all peoples, whatever their economic, social, ethnic or cultural origins.

In the United States, as elsewhere in the world, human rights are a work in progress. The United States values the opportunity to reflect on our own human rights record in the light of international standards, and we welcome the perspectives of others on that record when they are offered in a constructive spirit.

Our world has undergone massive political, economic and social change over the past decade. The spread of democracy from South Africa to the former Soviet Union is bringing new-found rights and opportunities to millions. In fact, it is difficult to recollect a time in human history when so many people -- across the globe -- have enjoyed the fruits of democracy and freedom. Let me cite some especially heartening examples.

After 36 years of civil war, Guatemala has today become a model for human rights reform. Since the 1996 peace accord, almost 200,000 civilians have been demobilized from defense patrols; the military is being significantly downsized and corrupt officials fired.

In Haiti, which I visited this past summer, significant progress is being made. In February, 1996 the nation celebrated the first transfer of power to a democratically elected president. President Rene Preval has now served almost two years in office and a police force which for generations terrorized the Haitian people is today being recreated to protect and serve.

Few places in the world have seen greater and more historic change than South Africa. In 1994, landmark national elections brought Nelson Mandela to power as the nation's first democratically elected president. Just last year we saw the adoption of a new constitution guaranteeing fundamental rights for all South Africans, whatever the color of their skin. Today, South Africa's governing institutions and civil society organizations are consolidating the democratic transformation. In addition, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began intensive hearings in 1996 on apartheid-era human rights abuses and is beginning the difficult and painful process of political reconciliation.

In India the National Human Rights Commission, created in 1993, has been a major factor in promoting heightened awareness of human rights concerns among local governments, the police and armed forces and in the general public. Moreover, it has begun to address serious problems such as custodial mistreatment and torture.

In April 1997, Yemen held a national parliamentary election in which more than 3,000 candidates vied for 301 seats. International observers declared the election substantially free and fair. And women not only voted in large numbers but two female candidates won seats in parliament. The United States awaits the continuation of this process in Yemen's first presidential election planned for 1999.

In my recent trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I reached a compromise with President Laurent Kabila to proceed with the U.N. human rights mission to that country. It is the hope of the U.S. Government that this mission will provide Congo the opportunity to begin playing a constructive role in the region.

Unfortunately, of course, there have also been setbacks, as some countries continue to violate the basic human rights of their citizens. The following developments are of special concern to the United States:

Nigeria continues to pursue a tightly controlled "transition" to civilian democratic rule in 1998. The United States remains skeptical that elections conducted in the current atmosphere of exclusion and intimidation will render a credible result. The presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, and some 100 other political prisoners remain incarcerated, and government agents routinely harass and intimidate human rights and pro-democracy groups.

Cuba remains the only country that still fails to embrace democracy in the Western Hemisphere. Over the past year we have witnessed new and more sobering examples of the Castro government's patent disregard for international standards of human rights and its stubborn determination to deny fundamental freedoms to the Cuban people. Since June 1997 more than 90 people have been detained, interrogated or arrested for political reasons, including the four members of the "Dissident Working Group," which had increased its activity and reached out to the international community for support.

In Sudan the human rights situation remains deplorable. As noted in this year's resolution at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, there are reports of detention without trial, forced displacement of persons, torture, slavery, religious persecution, ideological indoctrination and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of racial, ethnic and religious minorities. The Sudanese government continues to prevent full and impartial investigations of these grave human rights violations and has not responded to international pressure to improve its human rights record.

Widespread human rights violations also continue in Burma, where hundreds of political prisoners remain detained. Torture and other mistreatment are commonplace. The May 1990 elections clearly demonstrate the will of the Burmese people to return to parliamentary democracy. Regrettably, the military leadership still refuses to hand over power to a democratically-elected civilian government. We call for dialogue with the NLD, and look forward to the day when Aung San Suu Kyi is free to pursue her political future.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) the United States insists upon the implementation of the Peace Agreement, particularly its human rights aspects. We address this situation in full, in our draft resolution, on this subject.

China has taken some steps which may help improve the human rights situation over the long term. China signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, agreed to preparatory talks establishing a forum for Chinese and U.S. NGOs and officials, hosted the October visit of the U.N. Arbitrary Detention Working Group, resumed limited cooperation with businessman and human rights activist John Kamm on prisoner accounting, and invited a distinguished delegation of U.S. religious leaders to observe Chinese religious practice. Nevertheless, in China widespread and well-documented human rights abuses, including severe restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, religion, privacy and worker rights, continue unabated. Tibet, in

particular, continues to suffer disproportionately from China's harsh repression. President Clinton and Secretary Albright recently appointed Gregory Craig as Special Coordinator on Tibetan issues to monitor the human rights situation there and promote dialogue between the Government of China and the Dalai Lama.

Finally, I want to call attention once more to the situations in Iraq and Iran, where, as the world well knows, respect for the very basics of human rights is sadly lacking.

Mr. Chairman, freedom of speech, thought and conscience, values always implicit in the world's great spiritual traditions and now universally proclaimed, are among the most impressive achievements of human progress. For 52 years, the United Nations has made an essential contribution to the global advance of these rights through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our goal must be to ensure that the standards of freedom and tolerance embodied in the Universal Declaration are a reality for future generations. Thank you.