Category: 人权

引自”联合国网站新闻中心”

12月10日是世界人权日。2010年12月10日，潘基文秘书长及人权高级专员皮莱分别发表声明指出，人权捍卫者为保护和促进人权发挥著重要作用，他们在日益动荡和危险的环境中开展工作，常常遭到骚扰、任意拘捕和拘禁，甚至杀害。他们呼吁所有国家保障言论自由和集会自由，让人权捍卫者得以开展工作，并向全世界人权捍卫者致敬。

潘基文在声明中表示，我们为了捍卫人权的人来纪念今年的人权日。他指出，保护和促进人权的法律是不可或缺的，但是，取得进步常常要依靠勇敢的人，努力保护自身权利和其他人权利的人，决心让人们真正享有权利的人。潘基文强调，如果人权捍卫者的生命受到威胁，那么我们所有人都不会那么安全。

潘基文说，人权捍卫者的背景不尽相同。他们可能是民间社会组织的成员，可能是记者，也可能仅是一个公民。但是，他们都决心揭露坏事，保护最脆弱的人，消除有罪不罚现象。他们的工作经常存在很大的风险。各国负有保护人权捍卫者的首要责任。

人权高级专员皮莱指出，人权捍卫者正在日益动荡和危险的环境中开展工作，他们常常遭到骚扰、任意拘捕和拘禁，甚至杀害。皮莱强调，压制人权捍卫者的行为本身就侵犯人权，她同时敦促各国政府承认批评不是一项罪行。

皮莱说：“每一天人权运动都在赢得更多的支持者，但是我们不能自满。无法计数的人权捍卫者由于压制性的法律被关押、被辞退，有的被处决或流放。人权捍卫者在确保国家在追求经济和政治目标的同时执行尊重人权的政策方面发挥著关键作用。但尽管他们给社会带来了好处，在世界有些地方，他们自己的权利仍然遭到侵犯，尤其是他们的言论自由。”

1948年12月10日是联合国大会通过《世界人权宣言》的日子，宣言确认尊重人权和人的尊严是“世界自由、正义与和平的基础”。1950年，联大通过决议，将每年的12月10日定为人权日。

潘基文秘书长2010人权日声明英文全文如下：

Secretary-General’s Message for Human Rights Day 2010

Human rights are the foundation of freedom, peace, development and justice — and the heart of the work of the United Nations around the world.

Laws to protect and promote human rights are indispensable. But quite often, progress comes down to people… courageous women and men… striving to protect their own rights and the rights of others… determined to make rights real in people’s lives.

It is these human rights defenders to whom we dedicate this year’s observance of Human Rights Day.

Defenders are a diverse group. They might be part of a civil society organization, a journalist or even a lone citizen, spurred to action by abuses close to home.

But they all share a commitment to expose wrongdoing, protect the most vulnerable and end impunity. They stand up, speak out — and today they tweet — in the name of freedom and human dignity..

Human rights defenders play a vital role in the fight against discrimination. They investigate violations and help victims gain justice and support.

Far too often, their work entails tremendous risk.

Defenders are harassed, stripped of their jobs and wrongfully imprisoned. In many countries, they are tortured, beaten and murdered.

Their friends and family members are also subjected to harassment and intimidation.

Women human rights defenders face additional risks, and therefore need additional support.

This Human Rights Day is an occasion to salute the courage and achievements of human rights defenders everywhere – and to pledge to do more to safeguard their work.

States bear the primary responsibility to protect human rights advocates. I call on all States to ensure the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly that make their work possible.

When the lives of human rights advocates are endangered, we are all less secure.

When the voices of human rights advocates are silenced, justice itself is drowned out.

On this Human Rights Day, let us be inspired by those seeking to make our world more just. And let us remember that everyone — no matter their background, training or education — can be a human rights champion.

So let us use that power. Let us each be a human rights defender.

Ban Ki-moon

(黄达维 David C. Huang，December 2010 USA)