Jeunesse Etudiante Catholique Internationale JECI

International Young Catholic Students IYCS

Mr. President of the General Assembly of the United Nations,

On 10th December, the international community will celebrate the World Day of Human Rights. This year, the
day gets a coincidence with the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Since the declaration of the human rights in 1948, that universality is well demonstrated by the number of
languages within it is broadcasted (360), many instruments of monitoring both at international and regional
levels have been established. International legal structures such as the International Court of Hague, the
International Criminal Tribunal and other bodies and social welfare have emerged and have proven themselves.
In this 21st century we can rejoice for the important progress made in respect of human dignity.

In early September 2008, a major conference at UNESCO headquarters in Paris has been an opportunity to
several NGOs to assess the impact of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Overall, the result is positive
and significant progress was noticed.

But a look at the late 20th and early 21st shows us that the road ahead is enormous. How to explain the fact that
with modern technology, the evolution of our world and its wealth, poverty is steadily increasing? What justifies
the genocide in Rwanda, the massacres in the Balkans, the forced exile of most Tibetans? The situation of the
people of East Timor, from Kashmir, Palestinians and Darfur remains completely uncertain and confused.
Whether, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, civilians are killed in the name of
“peace and security" of other people. In Colombia, Spain, Nigeria, many groups emphasize ideological violence
in their legitimate or non-legitimate claims. We must with courage and honesty recognize that in most of cases,
the violence unfortunately came as a response to the inability of governments to ensure social justice and respect
for the laws that guarantee basic freedom and equality for all. As expressed by the UN Secretary General, Mr
Ban Ki Moon, in his message on that day in 2007, fundamental freedoms set forth in the Declaration are still not
yet "a reality for all ". And too often, governments lack the political will to implement international standards
which they have agreed to submit voluntarily."

Today, one of the Fundamental Rights which is the right to education remains a real challenge for all states. If
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) put an emphasis on Education For All (EFA), what also struggle to
materialize, quality and purpose of education stay a genuine concern for young people and a challenge for
governments. The reforms of education systems sometimes launched by some states, much more responsive to
political and economic needs than education, student and social necessities.

The great crisis that we live these days and unfortunately exacerbates the conditions of the poorest comes much
more from a refusal to establish economic justice and fair trade among nations, than a simple disruption of
capitalist system.

The desire to assert the supremacy of peoples and states which now leads all countries in the nuclear arms race,
the proliferation of conflict zones, added to global warming and its consequences are all facts which seriously
threaten our humanity.

In adopting the global campaign “FIGHT POVERTY - BUILDING PEACE”, IYCS wanted to assert its vision
for a just world, which is possible and in which the respect of human rights and people must first go through the
fight against poverty.

Considering the progress made within the human race through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this
has developed the freedom of one and others to different levels,

Whereas much remains to be made as regards respect for fundamental rights, economic justice, both at national
and international,

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1 - IYCS makes an appeal that human rights become a reality for everyone, everywhere and at all times, and that
they are disclosed, accessible and especially understood by all within a planned timing.

2 - IYCS comes by this declaration urging a strengthening of the supervisory bodies of violations of human
rights throughout the world.

3 - IYCS recommends that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is fulfilled by the responsibilities of
people, states and international institutions in the protection of the weak, minorities and the environment.

4 - IYCS recommends a strengthening of economic, political, social and cultural rights of all states at
international level.

5 - The right to Education for All, particularly children and youth, must now exceed the only part of speeches
and commitments at international meetings. It must be treated as a means of survival of our humanity in the
future. Thus IYCS strongly recommends:

• That the role of institutions in the educational field should be strengthened. That these institutions
particularly UNESCO, possess mechanisms and instruments for decision-making power to states in
education. This is to enable and assist governments in their reforms of education systems.
• That training programs in schools and universities give the possibility to choose from primary and take
into account in addition to the intellectual faculties, the ability of students to excel in various fields.

6 - Considering that today, the capacity of the United Nations is extremely weak because of attitude of some
interested members of the Security Council that are favouring a massive human rights violations and killing
innocent people. IYCS adhere the views of key people (such as Kofi Anan former UN Secretary General) and
institutions, that have already called and continues to advocate for, recommends and supports the idea of revising
the composition of the Security Council. In addition, it suggests that in case of failure of the United Nations
leading to a violation of human rights and individual freedoms as in many cases (Rwanda, Darfur, the Ex-
Yugoslavia, Iraq, Palestine ....) that the individual responsibilities of members of the Security Council are
identified and that they bear the consequences.

7 - Finally, may the prevention and conflict management in all the places of our planet also be considered as a
human right, which should be ensured by the United Nations to the innocent and vulnerable populations.

Paris, on 2008 November 26th.

Mr. Edouard Koutsava

Secrétariat International
7 Impasse Reille, 75014 Paris
Tél : +331 45 48 14 72 Fax : + 33 1 42 84 04 53
E-mail: [email protected] Site Web: www.iycs-jeci.org