U-N/Human Rights

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=3/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228209
TITLE=U-N / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN  HAS URGED THE WORLD'S 
NATIONS TO PROTECT THE VALUES ENSHRINED IN THE UNIVERSAL 
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.  LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS MR. 
ANNAN SPOKE TO THE OPENING SESSION OF THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS 
COMMISSION WHICH SPEND THE NEXT SIX WEEKS STUDYING REPORTS ABOUT 
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD.

TEXT:  U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL, KOFI ANNAN SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS ARE 
UNIVERSAL RIGHTS.  AND HE SAYS THE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF 
THESE RIGHTS ARE AS VALID NOW AS THEY WERE 50 YEARS AGO WHEN THE 
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WAS ADOPTED.

                       ///  ANNAN ACT  ///

         OUR FOREFATHERS BUILT THE UNITED NATIONS TO SAVE  
         SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS FROM HOLOCAUST AND WAR, HORRORS 
         WHICH BROUGHT UNTOLD SORROW TO HUMANKIND.  THE UNIVERSAL
         DECLARATION WAS BORN OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE AS A MISSION
         STATEMENT NEVER TO LET THESE HORRORS HAPPEN AGAIN.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. ANNAN URGES PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE, 
INHUMANITY, AND INTOLERANCE.  HE SAYS THE DECLARATION WILL WORK 
TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS -- BUT, ONLY IF PEOPLE REMAIN VIGILANT 
AND WORK TO PROTECT THE DECLARATION.   

SOME COUNTRIES, NOTABLY IN ASIA AND AFRICA, HAVE CALLED FOR THE 
DECLARATION TO BE REVISED TO REFLECT, WHAT THEY CALL, THEIR 
PARTICULAR VALUES.  THEY SAY WESTERN IDEAS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ARE  
NOT  RELEVANT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES.   

MR. ANNAN SAYS HE REJECTS THOSE ARGUMENTS.  THE GHANAIAN-BORN 
SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS HE IS DISHEARTENED BY THE VIEWS EXPRESSED 
BY SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

                       ///  ANNAN ACT  ///

         SOME AFRICANS STILL VIEW THE CONCERN OF HUMAN RIGHTS AS 
         A RICH MAN'S LUXURY FOR WHICH AFRICA IS  NOT  READY, OR 
         EVEN AS A CONSPIRACY, IMPOSED BY THE INDUSTRIALIZED 
         WEST.  I FIND THESE THOUGHTS DEMEANING -- DEMEANING FOR 
         THE YEARNING FOR HUMAN DIGNITY THAT RESIDES IN EVERY 
         AFRICAN HEART. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

WHILE MR. ANNAN WAS SPEAKING, ABOUT 400 ETHNIC ALBANIANS HELD A 
SILENT VIGIL OUTSIDE THE HEAVILY GUARDED U-N COMPOUND. THE 
PROTESTORS DEMANDED AN END TO WHAT THEY CALL SERB "PERSECUTION 
AND MASSACRES OF THE ALBANIAN POPULATION" IN THE YUGOSLAV 
PROVINCE OF KOSOVO.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/LS/JWH

16-Mar-98 8:02 AM EST (1302 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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