The United States joined the member-states of the United Nations in commemorating Human Rights Day on December 10 to recall the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. People in every corner of the world desire to protect their basic human rights. These rights are not American but rather universal, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States leads the world in advancing democracy and protecting human rights of people around the globe in their struggle to be free. Democracy is the best guarantor of human freedoms. Rather than “exporting democracy,” the United States is actively carrying out President Bush’s pledge to support individuals who live under oppression by helping them hold free elections, build civil society and defend minority rights.
In Poland’s own neighborhood, the defense of human rights remains important. In Ukraine our diplomatic, program and policy efforts supported President Kwasniewski’s great effort a year ago to help Ukrainian citizens in ushering in a dramatic, peaceful, democratic change of government. Ukraine now has a government reflecting the will of the voters and a media environment that is the freest in Ukraine’s modern history.
In cooperation with the European Union, we continue to pressure the Government of Belarus to allow for freedom of the press, expression and assembly, and to join its regional neighbors in transitioning to a free and open society.
Our Deputy Chief of Mission, Kenneth Hillas, spoke on US human rights policy to three different audiences in Łódż on December 8: the Graduate School of International Relations, the American Studies Department of Łódż University, and a group of high school students at the American Corner in Łódż.
Our Political Counselor, Mary Curtin, spoke to approximately 30 students and faculty members at the American Studies Center at Warsaw University on December 2nd on the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy.
Mr. Hillas and Ms. Curtin used the opportunities to explain the importance the United States places on freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights, the human rights problems that the US faced decades ago such as segregation and talked with the students about the human rights issues facing the world today in the war on terrorism.
Links:
• International Human Rights Day
• u.s. Human Rights Foreign Policy
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