Assembly for Human Rights: Montreal; Recent Progress and Challenges Ahea

We have heard a translation of remarks by Mr. George Orenstein of the Belgian league for the rights of man. Brussels Belgium and other introductory talk emphasizing the positive side of human rights achievement came from Mr RSS Gano our dean of Colombo salon. Mr going to our dean is former ambassador to the United Nations and Officer United Nations Human Rights Commission. Mr. Chairman fellow delegates I mean indeed happy to have been given the opportunity of participating in the 20th and us it is evasions of the Declaration of Human Rights. The question is what progress is being made. If you look around and see the composition of these anybody you will see a tremendous progress has been made in the last game yes. Due to my chairmanship of the Human Rights Commission the 10th anniversary celebrations were conducted with the able assistance of my very gifted and

Mr. John Humphrey. I knew what an uphill fight it was to include in the program nations who did the ologies had not been acceptable to the vast majority of those who would then constitute the United Nations. Those countries were not members of the United Nations or the specialized agencies at that time the position was the celebration should be held only among in member states and those who are members of specialized agencies. Today the picture of the different large number of nations come to the United Nations. Large number of others have come to specialist agencies. Apart from those celebrations open to those who have not yet entered the portals of the United Nations make it abundantly clear that human rights are not a special privilege of a few nations.

A few people who have been recognized. But is a property of the whole world. We also come to that's one great change that has taken place to the recent past right to a new United Nations and the discussions or the political discussions that took place. We always took up the attitude that offends against human rights is an offense against the world. And on that basis. Number matters we could not otherwise have come up before the United Nations and apartheid and many other things could never be church. They didn't doubt the United Nations. I know what an uphill fight it was to get the item on. We included the agenda on the basis of a violation of human rights. Today how will it be accepted that it's possible to bring and I came on the agenda of the assembly on the basis of the violation of human rights. This is indeed a

very great advance from what it used to be. But I want it or to it there's another change that I noticed. I found that again in the early years 1948 to 1958 or so I found that non-government organisations were merely totally did they came there as observers. And in order to obtain the right to expression their views special permission to be obtained from the chairman previous notice at the beginning and possibly a gist of what they had to say that we can be a bit thick ended and evicted by the due to human rights gone Humpy. I conceived the idea that any observer should be entitled to express his views. He had managed a pasta name at any stage of the discussion and had made a call upon to express the views of the international

organisation. I know what it meant it meant a tremendous advance somebody used to be because for one thing there the declination of the nature of the change would never have been come into being. But but the pressure that was brought to bear on the Human Rights Commission by members of observers who represent of international organisations. Since there is one not up important point I want to convey to ease the great disadvantage to me that in recent times is the diverse conscience had been lost. Do this as two human rights human rights were at one time meant to be immune to political rights and no more today. All aspects of human rights are taken into account. I do not say that every member of a member state is observing human rights that human rights are NOT a while it'd

infect the Wyly should the human rights are so frequent. Sometimes we get despondent heartbroken that unable to do anything very much about it but affected means even those who are in the Tumen rights. Once these exports are so ashamed of it the fact that it is a centrist shame is enough I think compensation for all the troubles that have been taken so that I see the 20th there are celebrations we are now in a position to undertake more constructive work in the promotion of human rights. I am not going to discourage say what should be done. Of course we have some suggestions I would like to meet. The trio had to advance it on of the few things I would like to mention I don't think many people know the effect of the Declaration of Human Rights on the new missions that are coming to be. I don't say that all the new nations have practiced the promotion of human rights. Nevertheless most of the nation have incorporated the Constitution the

Declaration of Human Rights. We don't are pressing hard in the division our constitution to have the declaration of human rights incorporated. They haven't incorporated in the Constitution a gun over to their practice or not to study you know they are in the subset Pakistan-India secular constitution does not give any fact that put it. But government sets tortie fit the people have thought it fit to include to incorporate it into their constitution the depletion humanlike is a tremendous advance. Most nations are doing it. That means the effect of the invisible effect. The definition of human right is most tangible. I do not. People are thinking in terms of what they see the invisible effects of the declaration very much greater. Do you for a moment realize the impact it has made on the people who do good. Every country is now thinking in terms of seminars study groups on human rights. We celebrated film on human rights but a number of seminars and I'm all

sure proud that their system of periodic reports and seminars had been had been possible for me as chairman of the Human Rights Commission to promote. I cannot tell at all period a clip or two of unusual All we can do individually tangible about it but to bring before the world certain faces of human rights that are what I study and at least some nations specters some nations take advantage of that's a good beginning. The tremendous impact he got made on the women. Make it possible for us in Salon to have one first woman place to buy Mr Saillard Riemann's What did I do or talk to race at one time but as a result of the work done by the Human Rights Commission and the commission I stated that women what does happen to women I live to their privileges and you find political rights at least granted to women in most countries the world with just one remarkable exception of Switzerland but most countries every new nation

does it. Do you realize the number of conventions that have been resulted as a result of the human dictator human rights in India you know the number of conventions that have been defined in the relation to an employer an employee and their unit score the number of things that are fine. Conventional to begin upon so many to you. So I do say that although we have we have reason to be dissatisfied sometimes because unless you're dissatisfied you can never progress. Dad's room for satisfaction that has served the declination human rights has proved a most useful purpose and I was heartbroken at one time that the convention would never be a reality. I used to say before you know our life in a beach but that had been made possible under to convention a bit up to you 96. Number of convention and I mean that if I didn't get pictures. But for all this world public opinion is necessary.

The world in now beginning to think not in terms of nation the lone and state alone but in terms of human individuals and this assembly itself is proof of it. I would no doubt wish the assembly a great success and I really hope for the future. I'm an incurable optimist. I think this assembly can achieve a good deal in a matter of remedying that effects that idea. Thank you. That was Mr RSS going to our dean of Colombo salon former ambassador to the United Nations and Officer United Nations Human Rights Commission. We continue this report on the assembly for Human Rights at Montreal. As the agenda turns from recent positive achievements to challenges ahead the keynote address on this latter topic was given and introductory remarks from the floor by Mr. Sean McBride. Mr. McBride cochairman for the assembly serves as secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists Geneva Switzerland.

Turning to the two item to overfeed I take a much more pessimistic view then the view which has been expressed by many of us because of progress made undoubtedly human rights have now become an issue of international concern. But this is lousy so far. May I pose you the simple question to whom can a human being turn to whose life liberty in danger

whose liberty has been things whose most elementary rights to be of it. To whom can he turn to for protection in the world of today. Twenty years after we Nancy ated that he was entitle to put protection under the law there is no mechanism to whom any human being could whose rights are infringed under night Bay's own government can turn to. Isn't that the acid test. And I put you another test. Do you believe that if the Universal Declaration were to be Doc were to be considered today to teach would be doctored by the world of today. I don't think it would. Do you think that the

18 nations that signed the European Convention of Human Rights would today sign it. I'm afraid as again the answer is no other TV loosed. But we have the God in the western world on Western Europe as being the most liberal related nations. Do you think the dame would cite it. I invade often. So much for the good educated position. Oh we not witnessing the world today and indeed for the last. Certainly Kenya has a mobile King and message of this Lee God for human life. And message destruction of human liberty under human life.

In violation of the principles laid down in the Universal Declaration. We really have to look around the areas of the world. We know that in the subgroup or bosal of the African continent. This father was those who don't happen to white have a white skin. The little guy it's whatsoever that allowed to there. We notice a message the section of human rights in all that vast area of the world South Africa and good will send a console. Not only do we know death.

We're all sort of Fortunately of a conscious of the fact that this is tacitly accepted. By nations that lip service to the universal declaration. That it is a reluctance to deal with the public. They question Europe which is supposed to be decayed to love civilisation democracy. I wave it was stationary just mentioned Spain Portugal and Greece. Other countries of Western Europe looked.

Really concerned as a see what is happening in these countries. Adi put bed to take any action to try and protect human rights in those areas. We notice when Bush really every human rights was swept away by the military John tell you nice. And decent was one of the signatories of the European Convention of Human Rights. But all but for all of the other signatories of European Convention were quite prepared to close their eyes to that situation and to do nothing about it. Is this progress. We know that again by way of illustration that

certain in certain portions of Eastern Europe. But right to freedom of expression right to freedom of association. Bush really do not exist. We appreciate a there's been a book there has been progress. We notice you know with the use of world as a molting brutality. And this is indeed one of the terrifying things about the world of today because we tend to use it to accept mounting brutality including tailing mesoscale as to be unable to day nor a civilization when six hundred thousand people Lamesa could in Indonesia the paedo day

will come when its silence and respond then forgotten. When helpless civilians are killed in Viet Nam on one side or the other. Again it's they look gated to a lost puppy compartment of a conscience. We noticed for instance these we just incensing of areas of Africa they have been pretty widespread massacre.

We know the weapons they use gas not time and so on. In the end then only get nabbed. But again the human conscience I mean is always silent about oldies of it. We know to the probably terrible deeds taking place in the Middle East. Again there is no weakness in for dealing with these matters. I mean she really is the time and make us realize that we haven't really been making very much progress. Actually we may have been making a certain lot of progress on paper by way of conventions by way of cover notes. But whenever it comes

to giving teeth to these conventions alter the scuttles there's an immediate alliance by governments. B take time to stalk calculus b day you'll be an African all these. To ensure that there will not be teeth put into any convention. There will be no effective implementation machinery. Now come back to the question I posed at the beginning is that a new machine be available to us to human being whose life or liberty is in danger at the moment that is it's left to non-governmental organizations. So they raise their voice and thank goodness they can but they help get virtually no assistance from governments or international organizations.

The difficulty would unite a nation so far is that it's full. This has been on human rights has been piecemeal. The subtlety usually on an ad hoc all political basis. Particularly never on a judicial basis implement additional machinery to be effective must be automatic must be permanent and must be judicial and objective. This is what lacks in all the efforts that have been made so far.

But I think it is a kind of a fellow feeling conspiracy awful. I don't stated on mention tacit agreement by governments that they do not really want any international machinery for Protection of Human Rights under supplies to governments of any tendency. Take a simple simple example of this. Of referred to the massive destruction of human rights are taking place all over the world in armed conflict would it be external doesn't matter. People no longer declare was that they have. In which in human and

indefensible weapons they use the only convention dealing with measures of warfare is the Hague Convention of 1907 at a time when there were no planes went over none of these modern metals was destruction nor atomic weapons and all that. Nine hundred and seven new members say for saving me by they'd call us by the number of non-governmental organizations the tiny induced governments to enter into face convention to do this. No later than last year that calls to every government in the world drawing down attention today isn't going to need to call a conference

to prepare a security duction of a convention to deal with these topics. Most governments didn't even comply and those that applied gave an evasive reply. I will flee did this does signify little bit yet he recovers Nejad which is often prompted by a feeding well if there was such a convention Sunday of another we might like to use some indefensible weapon. Same applies to human rights issue. Governments are reluctant to tie their hands to saying we will not shoot people absolutely we will not imprison our political opponents. We were lots of place newspapers. We will not suppress

organizations and so on. So you have definitional. Look at this and you are nearly crisp idiocy on the part of the government's own stated which is a block to a greater progress in the field of human lives. But it is a dickless to say that after 20 years we yet haven't got any international implementation machine to whom a human being can turn if his rights are being things. I think that we should if possible face up to that situation. We should urge the need for such machinery to have a disk will come next couple of days and those which should not be afraid to criticize.

Lack of focus need lots of distillation. Thank you very much. The speaker was Mr. Sean McBride secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva Switzerland. He was speaking at the recent assembly for human rights in Montreal Quebec. In succeeding reports we'll bring you more in Florida's question and special interviews reflecting the trend of the discussion at the Assembly a gathering attended by 80 delegates and observers from many parts of the world. This program was produced by Don vaguely and your narrator Roy Vogelman report from Montreal. The international assembly for Human Rights has been prepared by the Wisconsin state broadcasting service at the University of Wisconsin for distribution by the national educational radio network.