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(English) FIR recalls the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948
25. Juni 2018
Last week, the UN refugee agency UNHCR reported that nearly 70 million people around the world are currently fleeing war, persecution and hunger. Eighty-five percent of the refugees lived in low-income or lower-income countries. UNHCR leader Filippo Grandi appealed to the humanitarian responsibilities of rich states. « Nobody becomes a refugee voluntarily, but we others can help. »
The FIR has always been in political responsibility to help people who are fleeing. On the occasion of World Refugee Day on 20 June 2018, we recall the common promise of all the forces of the anti-Hitler coalition, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948:
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, …
Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Until today, these rights are not universal, and even European governments are trampling on these principles, e.g.
- the Italian Minister of the Interior Salvini, who wants to introduce an ethnic population register,
- Hungary with the announced internment of refugees or the « detention centers » planned by various European countries in North Africa or in Europe itself,
- the Baltic governments with discrimination against Russian population groups.
The FIR also demands from European governments the observance of human rights and a refugee policy that does not serve the expulsion of people or the development of the « Fortress Europe ». The FIR demands that civil society aid organizations be supported in their work with refugees and not be criminalized.
