The 2015 International Human Rights Day Celebration
10th of December 2015, Kampala
Statement by the Norwegian Ambassador, Susan Eckey
Guest of Honor,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
All protocol observed
I feel both honored and pleased standing here today giving remarks at such an
important event as the 2015 international Human Rights Day Celebration.
Dear Human Right Defenders,
Today, in my country Norway, the Nobel Peace Prize 2015 will be presented to
the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet. The Quartet was awarded the Prize “for
its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in
the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011”. The Quartet “established an
alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink
of civil war. It was thus instrumental in enabling Tunisia, in the space of a few
years, to establish a constitutional system of government guaranteeing
fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political
conviction or religious belief.” They are indeed human rights defenders, who we
must applaud and support.
Human rights are important in every aspect of life. Human rights is everything. It
is not a complicated equation and it is not an academic exercise. Human rights is
about acknowledging and respecting every women’s, man’s, girl’s and boy’s right
to live in a secure and peaceful environment, free of violations on their personal
integrity and at the same time creating an atmosphere in which they have access
to health, education and other services. Respecting human rights is also to accept
and respect a girl or a women’s right to decide over her own body. This right is
violated when the girl child is forced to undergo FGM or being early married,
which also prevent her from access to the educational system. It is also violated
when she is not allowed access to family planning.
Last week, I had the chance to visit the beautiful and remote village of Zombo in
Nebbi District, in the West Nile. There the local community had progressed in
terms of the right to health, to education, to life, liberty and security of person.
The recently adopted global Sustainable Development Goals are being
implemented in Zombo as we speak. Hygiene and sanitation standards have
improved, through very simple and low cost interventions. Livelihoods were
improved through equally simple and low cost means. Through these
improvements, violence in the home was reduced and youth were taught how they
could make a living and stay in their home communities. We met a young man,
an entrepreneur of 25, who through a holistic Caritas programme had worked to
aquire goats, chickens, agricultural fields and a solar panel. He even rented out
power from his solar panel to fellow villagers to charge their phones. What
happens in Zombo is empowerment - it is the fulfillment of people’s human rights.
In more general terms, human rights are the foundation of freedom, justice and
peace. They are fundamental rights that all people are entitled to, irrespective of
personal characteristics such as gender, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation,
disability or ethnicity. Democracy based on respect for human rights and the rule
of law promotes stability, security and sustainable development. Failure to respect
human rights is an infringement of the rights of the individual and can weaken
and impede social development, with grave consequences over time at the local,
national and international level.
In this respect, human rights defenders play an important role in societies all over
the world as they stand up for other people’s rights. Human rights defenders are
often spokespersons for vulnerable and marginalized groups or for people who
are not in a position to defend themselves. In many cases, they represent grassroots movements that are working to bring about change within their communities.
They are in the front line, sometimes with their own lives at risk.
It is primarily the duty of states to protect, promote and implement their human
rights obligations. Human rights defenders play a key role in documenting and
calling attention to situations where states do not fulfill this duty and human rights
violations are committed. As governments we may not always agree with human
right defenders, but their right and ability to work safely and without retaliation is
a key element in building and maintaining sustainable, open and democratic
societies. Human right defenders need to be protected and enjoy the same rights
as all people.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I want to thank all the courageous people who wake up every day with the aim of
fighting for the rights of others. I also want to extend my thanks to NGOs,
organizations and agencies supporting human rights defenders in their fight
against injustice. In this regard, I want to appreciate and recognize the work of
OHCHR abroad and in Uganda, especially with your work on strengthening the
capacities of your partners.
The global community has achieved immense progress since the adoption of the
United Nations Millennium Declaration in the year 2000. One billion people have
come out of extreme poverty, millions have received better education and health
care. Women and girls the world over have experienced progress in their lives. In
the coming 15 years we must implement the Sustainable Development Goals and
work hard to close the many remaining gaps and ensure the fulfilment of all
human rights for all. Let us do this together.
Thank you.