At the Human Rights Award ceremony, Guterres drew attention to the "suffering" in Gaza
At the Human Rights Award ceremony, Guterres drew attention to the "suffering" in Gaza
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there had been "dramatic deaths and suffering" as a result of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
At the UN General Assembly in New York, the laureates were awarded the UN Human Rights Prizes, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Guterres noted that since the clashes began on October 7, "we have witnessed dramatic deaths and suffering in Gaza every day" and that "the conflict continues to rage with grave consequences for civilians."
"The world needs leaders, corporations, political parties, religious and civic organizations and other leaders to speak out against anti–Semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, attacks on Christian minorities and all forms of hatred and abuse," Guterres said.
The UN Secretary-General said that despite the past 75 years, "inequality is deepening in the world, hunger and poverty are growing, women's rights are stagnating, and in some cases regressing."
"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a loud call to act in accordance with the fundamental truth that each of us is an equal member of one human family," Guterres said.
"Every life matters, without any discrimination."
The President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, in his opening remarks at the session, which was held in honor of the achievements of human rights defenders around the world, stressed the "equality of all people."
"It is time to act so that human rights go beyond simple slogans, to give people the opportunity to defend their rights, which are and should be considered sacred," Francis said. Because we are all human beings, and we are equal in rights. Every life matters, without any discrimination."
Stating that millions of people around the world are still deprived of their most basic human rights, Francis stressed that one should ask where they do not protect universal declarations, goals and principles.
"Human rights defenders are visionary agents of change,"
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said: "Human rights defenders are far-sighted agents of change. They see a better future for all of us and know how to make that future a reality."
Addressing the laureates in this field, Turk said: "You are ambassadors of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Your outstanding work is changing our world for the better every day. It takes determination and courage."
Turk thanked the laureates for their unique contribution to building a better future for people all over the world.
The UN Human Rights Prize, which has been awarded since 1968, was awarded this year to the Viasna Human Rights Center from Belarus, Julien Lusenge from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies from Jordan, Julio Perea from Uruguay and the Global Coalition for Universal Recognition of the Right to Clean, Healthy and a sustainable environment."
