Mr. Speaker, 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called on all countries to mark this anniversary by renewing their commitment to human rights throughout the world.
Let this task start first and foremost with the United Nations itself, which needs to deal with pressing issues like Darfur and genocide.
The often repeated one-sided resolutions against Israel to the exclusion of all others, such as Iran, undermine the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, as well as diminish the UN's credibility, and this ultimately hurts the noble goal of universal human rights.
We need to all join in echoing the words of the UN Secretary-General when he says that countries should “promote the Declaration's ideals and principles of justice and equality for everyone”.
If universal human rights are to be enjoyed by all, then we must all do our part.