Today is a day of celebration but also a sad reminder for the global community. World Human Rights Day has a dual character, on the one hand it is a day of joy and promotion of universal human values and on the other hand it is a springboard for the citizens of the world to be vigilant and protect these values with passion and vigour. On this day in 1948, with memories of the devastating and destructive Second World War fresh in our minds, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed at the United Nations.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the inherent dignity of all members of the human family and their equal and inalienable rights. The protection of human rights as the common ideal is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. With this Declaration constantly in mind, every individual and every institution of society must make every effort to develop respect for these rights and freedoms and to ensure progressively, by domestic and international means, their universal and effective application.
Two years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Council of Europe's European Convention on Human Rights was signed. The European Convention was the first instrument to crystallize and give binding force to the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It establishes absolute rights that can never be violated by states, such as the prohibition of torture and slavery, and protects certain rights and freedoms that can only be restricted by law when necessary in a democratic society, for example the right to liberty and security or the right to respect for private and family life. Further, the importance of the European Convention lies in the scope of the rights and freedoms it protects, but also in the system it has established with the creation of the European Court of Human Rights, with the task of supervising the fulfilment of their obligations by states.
One of the institutional responsibilities of the Office of the Legislative Commissioner is the monitoring, preparation, supervision and active participation as head of the delegation in the Reports on the compliance of the Republic of Cyprus with international conventions. The obligations derive from International Human Rights Conventions of the United Nations and the Council of Europe signed by Cyprus, which aim at the promotion and protection of human rights.
In particular, the Office of the Law Commissioner monitors the following UN Conventions: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984). In addition, the Office of the Legislative Commissioner is the institution responsible for coordinating the drafting of reports and monitoring the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (1992), and the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1995).
As Commissioner for Legislation, I echo the words of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk "It is absolutely clear that we need to recover the universality of human rights, the indivisibility of human rights and we need to find a new energy to motivate young people all over the world.".
This year's Human Rights Day slogan is "Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All" and the call to action is #StandUp4HumanRights.
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