OneWorld.net (U.S.)

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 10 (OneWorld) - The United Nations today launched a worldwide campaign to stop human rights abuses and violations by governments, private businesses and others.

The year-long UN campaign was kicked off Monday on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, marking the 59th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The Declaration remains as relevant today as it did on the day it was adopted," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in announcing the new campaign. "But the fundamental freedoms enshrined in it are still not a reality."

"Too often governments lack the political will to implement international norms they had willingly accepted," he noted in a statement.

The Universal Declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948. Since then, it has inspired the constitution of many newly independent states and democracies. Reflecting global values of equality and justice, the Declaration has been translated into more than 360 languages.

"It's a chance to ensure that [human] rights are a living reality - that they are known, understood, and enjoyed by every one, everywhere," said Ki-moon of the UN campaign, which is aimed at highlighting the principles of fundamental rights.

International civil society activists also expressed concerns over the global status of human rights.

"Human rights are being violated, neglected and eroded with audacity and impunity by governments, businesses and armed groups," said Irene Khan, secretary general of Amnesty International.

In Khan's view, despite some progress, many governments have failed to convert their human rights rhetoric into reality.

"While world leaders remind us every day of the threats of weapons of mass destruction, the sale and transfer of small arms, which kill a thousand people a day, continues unabated," she said.

Khan, whose group monitors human rights violations worldwide, expressed particular concern over the world community's failure to stop ongoing human rights abuses in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Burma, and Pakistan.

"In Darfur, murder, rape, and violence continue unabated," she said. "In Zimbabwe, human rights defenders and political dissidents are being attacked, tortured, and thrown into prisons without a fair trial."

The Amnesty leader criticized the international community for its weak response to human rights violations in the Middle East and massive crackdowns on democracy activists in Burma and Pakistan.

Without naming the United States, Khan deplored Washington's global strategy for countering terrorism, noting that it has "undermined the fundamental principles of human rights, while extremists have unleashed a downward spiral of violence that has endangered the lives of ordinary people."

Despite these concerns, both the UN and civil society expressed the hope that a vigorous campaign could yield positive results.

"It is difficult to say what a fundamental shift the Declaration represented when it was adopted about 60 years ago," said Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Arbour continued: "In a post-war world scarred by Holocaust, divided by colonialism and wracked by inequality, a charter setting out the first global and solemn commitment to the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings was a bold and daring undertaking."

An essential element in the protection of human rights, she added, is "a widespread knowledge and understanding among people of what their rights are and how they can be defended."

The campaign theme for both the day and the year is "Dignity and justice for all of us." To mark the 59th anniversary of the Declaration, UN officials plan a wide range of activities, including several events organized by UN Information Centers located in many cities across the world. .................................................................................... Like this article? Then please support our global efforts to bring you the news and views seldom heard in mainstream media. OneWorld.net is non-profit, non-commercial public media. Every little bit helps, so thank you! Click here to help. ....................................................................................