Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of hope. Fifty years ago a group of men and women from diverse cultures, traditions and faiths came together to offer humanity an extraordinary vision of how the world could be.
They adopted the Universal Declaration of Human rights which, half a century later, continues to address directly what is necessary for a life of dignity for every human being.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a proclamation of the most fundamental rights to which a human being is entitled, written in large part by a Canadian. It was to represent a common standard of achievement for all people and all nations. It is a message of hope, equality, liberation and empowerment. It is a message to all who are committed to freedom, justice and peace in the world.
On behalf of my party and for all of our children, I encourage Canadians to reflect upon these values and celebrate human rights day on December 10.