World Tibet Network News Tuesday, June 23, 1998

Vienna Plus Five International NGO Forum on Human Rights

22-24 June, 1998

Ottawa, CANADA

Today I would like to extend my good wishes and Tashi Delek (traditional Tibetan greeting) to all the participants of this International Conference on Human Rights. I hope and pray your meeting will be meaningful.

Of all the sentient beings in this world, we human beings are singularly gifted with the highest level of intelligence and potential to think about the welfare of others. In this view of this, we also have a special responsibility. But our human intelligence and strong potential may become a source of destruction and cause additional misery to others if a sense of responsibility and caring does not go with it. Thus, altruism and human intelligence must go hand in hand.

Some countries do not enjoy freedom and democracy in the real sense of the term. In these places people face problems when they try to make the full use of our human intelligence and altruism to bring about progress. However, as human beings, we must all enjoy the same fundamental rights, irrespective of whether we are rich or poor, Westerner or Easterner. All of us have a responsibility to work for the protection of human rights. It is indeed encouraging that unlike in the past there is now worldwide effort by organisations as well as

individuals working especially to promote and protect human rights. I would, therefore, like to thank you and all the human rights organisations for the good work. This is very commendable. Your efforts have not only helped in the protection of individual rights but also it has been beneficial for the overall development of the concerned society as a whole.

Human rights is universal. We are all same human beings. Occasionally some countries contend that the universality of human rights do not apply to them because of their respective cultural tradition. Because we need to make effort toward a change for the better, with the passage of time, such perceptions must become more progressive. I believe the cultural tradition must change in order to practice the concept of the universality of human rights and not vice-versa.

Many people have struggled hard to bring about human rights and human equality. Some have had to risk their lives for these rights. We must, therefore, remember the hard work and achievements made by these people, and particularly those who have sacrificed their life. I feel that without judging the individuality of the person it is important to make an effort to continue and fulfill the work that they had started and hoped to achieve.

Again I wish to thank all of you present at this conference. I would also like to expression my admiration for your sense of responsibility and altruism.

Thank You.

Note: English transcription of video message in Tibetan taped on 31 May, 1998 in Dharamsala. The Message was delivered in English by Ngawang C. Drakmargyapon at the opening session of the Conference.

Forward by

Tibet Bureau for UN Affairs,

Geneva, Switzerland