70 years on, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains as important as ever

　　Mr.Nicholas Rosellini, UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative (Photo source: United Nations in China)

Last week on December 10, the Human Rights Day was celebrated around the world. While the celebration takes place every year, this year was special. It marked the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark human rights document that, when upheld, has contributed to enhancing the dignity of millions, preventing suffering and laying the foundations for a more just world. But, the 70th anniversary is also an important opportunity to remind ourselves that the human rights of millions around the world are still being violated on a daily basis.

　　 12月10日，全世界都在庆祝世界人权日。虽然我们每年都举行庆祝活动，但今年的活动意义非凡。因为今年是《世界人权宣言》（下称 “宣言”）诞生七十周年的重要年份。作为里程碑式的文献，宣言为捍卫人的尊严，消除苦难，奠定公平的基石做出了重要贡献。但我们不能忘记，在当今世界，仍有很多人的权利正在被侵犯。

Although the Declaration was drafted 70 years ago, against the backdrop of the horrors of World War II, it has shown itself to be as relevant today, as it has always been. I believe that the strength in the Declaration and the reason it has stood the test of time has to do with the way it came about. It was adopted by the UN on December 10 in 1948 through a process, which was truly participatory for the times. The drafting commission was made up of 18 women and men from various political, cultural and religious backgrounds.

　　七十年前，第二次世界大战刚刚结束，战争给世界许多国家和人民带来的巨大创伤和恐惧远未消除。在世界和平遭遇严重破坏、人权遭到侵犯的情况下，世界多个国家的人权活动家、法学家等精英齐聚一堂，共同起草了这一人权历史上的重要文献。世界局势几经变迁，但宣言从诞生起至今一直是世界人权实践的重要指导性文件，从未被时代淘汰。我相信宣言蕴含的力量和它经受住时间考验的原因与它的产生方式息息相关。1948年12月10日，联合国大会通过了宣言，全过程得到了当时成员国的充分参与。宣言起草委员会由18位来自政治、文化和宗教界的人士组织，其中有男性也有女性。

Women, in particular, played an essential part in shaping the document. The Chairperson of the drafting committee was Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States. Working along her were other women including, Hansa Mehta of India, who has been credited for changing the phrase “All men are born free and equal” to “All human beings are born free and equal”, as well as Minerva Bernardino, a diplomat and feminist leader from the Dominican Republic, who was instrumental in arguing for inclusion of “the equality of men and women” in the preamble of the Declaration. The drafting Committee also included a Chinese national, Pengchun Zhang. Mr. Zhang was a man of many skills. He was an academic, philosopher, playwriter, human rights activist, and diplomat, and also the younger brother of Boling Zhang, founder of prestigious Nankai University.

　　女性在起草宣言的过程中扮演了重要角色。起草委员会的主席埃莉诺•罗斯福是美国前第一夫人。和她一起在起草委员会工作的女性还包括来自印度的汉萨∙玛塔。汉萨是首先提出将人权的主体改为无差别的人，并将“所有男人生来自由和平等”改为“所有人生来平等和自由”。另一位女性起草人多米尼加外交官和女权主义领导密涅瓦∙贝纳迪诺在讨论中据理力争，终于将“男女平等”放进了宣言的序言中。起草委员会中还有一位来自中国的成员张彭春。张彭春身兼多个头衔，他是学者、哲学家、剧作家、人权活动家和外交官，他也是南开大学的创办人张伯苓的弟弟。

Thanks to the diversity of the Committee Members, the principles enshrined in the document reflect not only the values within one culture, but those of human nature. The Universal Declaration, became truly Universal.

　　起草委员会成员的多元化让宣言所包含的原则具有完整的代表性。它不仅囊括一种文化的价值观，而是反映了人性的整体。《世界人权宣言》因此而表现出了普世性。

Since its adoption, the Declaration has been translated into 501 languages, making it the most translated document in the world. It has inspired the constitutions of many countries and laid the foundations for virtually every area of international law. The most fundamental principle set out in the Declaration is that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” In other words, Human Rights are universal and eternal. They apply to everyone -- no matter our race, belief, location or other distinction of any kind. The Declaration also states that Human Rights indivisible. One cannot pick and choose among civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

　　自获批以来，宣言已被翻译成501种文字，是世界上被翻译得最多的文献。宣言对许多国家宪法的制定提供了指示，并为国际法的各领域打下了坚实的基础。宣言中最核心的原则是“人人生而自由，在尊严和权利上一律平等。”人权是普世的、不朽的。人权是无差异的、全人类的，无论人种、信仰、国籍等差异。人权是不可分的。任何人都不得在公民权利、政治权利、经济权利、社会权利和文化权利中进行选择。

Thanks to the Declaration, and States’ commitments to its principles, the dignity of millions has been uplifted, untold human suffering prevented and the foundations for a more just world have been laid. As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, noted in her Statement for this Anniversary, “The Declaration inspired liberation movements and led to better access to justice, social protections, economic opportunities and political participation.”

　　宣言的通过和各国对遵守其原则的承诺，让人类的尊严得到了捍卫和提升，让对人类的折磨得到了遏制，为世界公平和公正的建立奠定了基础。联合国人权事务高级专员米歇尔•巴切莱特在今年的纪念日致辞中说：“宣言启发了自由运动，并让人们更容易获得正义，社会保护，经济发展机会和政治参与的机会。”

However, State’s commitment to the principles of the Declaration cannot be taken for granted. Unfortunately, we are now witnessing how Human Rights are under siege around the world. Universal values are being eroded and the rule of law is being undermined. In recent memory, and ongoing today, are many examples of genocide, war crimes, violations of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, and crimes against humanity. It is the obligation of all of us to defend Human Rights and call those who violate them out. At the same time, it is also our obligation to ensure that everyone, everywhere is held to the same standards. The protection of Human Rights must not be politicized.

　　然而，我们不能认为各国承诺遵守宣言的原则是理所当然的。遗憾的是，当今世界人权仍在遭受侵犯。普世价值正在受到侵蚀，法治正在受到破坏。在最近的记忆中，并在今天仍然存在着许多种族灭绝、战争罪行、侵犯族裔和宗教少数群体权利以及危害人类罪行的例子。我们所有人都有义务捍卫人权，并将侵犯人权的人绳之以法。同时，我们也有义务确保在任何地方的每个人都遵守同样的标准。保护人权决不能政治化。

The UN in China, just like UN Country Teams around the World, places Human Rights at the center of our development work. The 2030 Agenda and its call to “leave no one behind” cannot be achieved without promoting and safeguarding the rights and opportunities for all groups. The UN agencies work with national counterparts to enhance the rights and addressing challenges facing vulnerable groups, including women’s rights, labor rights, the rights of children, rights and protection of persons living with HIV and AIDS as well as persons with disabilities.

　　联合国驻华系统和世界各地的联合国驻地办公室一样，把人权放在我们发展工作的中心。要实现2030年可持续发展议程及其“不让任何人掉队”的要求，我们必须促进和保障所有群体的权利和机会。联合国各机构与国家对口单位合作，加强弱势群体的权利，应对弱势群体面临的挑战，包括妇女权利、劳工权利、儿童权利、艾滋病毒携带者和艾滋病患者以及残疾人的权利和保护。

In honor of the 70th anniversary of this groundbreaking document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, the UN has launched a global campaign to encourage people to “Stand Up for Human Rights”. I urge to join this call for action. Today more than ever, everyone, everywhere must “Stand Up for Human Rights”.

　　为纪念这一开创性文件通过70周年，并防止其重要原则受到破坏，联合国发起了一场全球运动，鼓励人们“捍卫人权”。我敦促大家响应这一行动呼吁。今天，世界各地的每个人比以往任何时候都必须更“捍卫人权”。

The author: Mr. Nicholas Rosellini (Italy) took up his assignment as the UN Resident Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in the People’s Republic of China in October 2016. Prior to this, he served as UNDP Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific since January 2009, and most recently also as Director of the Bangkok Regional Hub.

Mr. Rosellini has also served as UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Bhutan (2005-2008); and previously in various capacities in UNDP including: Director, Office of the Assistant Administrator (2000-2005); Deputy Resident Representative, Vietnam (1996-2000); Assistant Resident Representative, Pakistan (1992-1996); Programme Advisor, Ethiopia (1989-1992); and Programme Officer, Ghana (1986-1989).

Mr. Rosellini holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bristol University in the United Kingdom.