– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly
18 December 2018
Mr. António Guterres, Secretary General
Mrs. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Excellencies,
It is my honor to preside this ceremony to award the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights 2018.
The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, was one of the stellar moments of universal history and, without a doubt, it has been one of the greatest legacies of the General Assembly to humanity.
This Prize was created to celebrate the extraordinary demonstration of fraternity and solidarity of men and women who suffered two world wars and set out to avoid them for future generations.
In 1968, on the twentieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration, this prize was awarded for the first time.
Since then, the prize has been awarded every five years to more than sixty individuals and organizations of all regions that have excelled in various fields of human rights and have contributed to keep the ideals of freedom, peace and justice alive in the world.
All prizewinners share the vision that a better future is possible. Their struggles encompass the rights of women, children, migrants and refugees, persons with disabilities; the abolition of slavery and fighting racial discrimination; demanding truth, justice and reparation for enforced disappearances and torture; the eradication of poverty, hunger and denouncing other social and economic injustices; as well as the tireless search for answers to crimes and violations of human rights, even when their own lives and security are at stake.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Malala Youssef, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International are only a few of the winners of this prize.
Excellencies,
In its tenth edition, we celebrate seventy years of the Universal Declaration and we pay a well deserved tribute to those who contribute to turn it into a reality.
I wish to take this opportunity to emphasize the impeccable process that the Special Committee to select the winners has delivered under the leadership of the former President of the General Assembly, Miroslav Lajčák.
All prizewinners share the vision that a better future is possible. Their struggles encompass the rights of women, children, migrants and refugees, persons with disabilities; the abolition of slavery and fighting racial discrimination; demanding truth, justice and reparation for enforced disappearances and torture; the eradication of poverty, hunger and denouncing other social and economic injustices; as well as the tireless search for answers to crimes and violations of human rights, even when their own lives and security are at stake.
The Prize that we will be awarding today is not only an acknowledgement to the work of Rebeca Gyumi, Joênia Wapichana, the Front Line Defenders Organization and Asma Jahangir, who unfortunately is no longer with us, it is also a message of gratitude to all human rights defenders, wherever they may be, because their sacrifices and constant dedication help us move forward towards societies that are less unfair and unequal.
We convey our support and admiration to those defenders. Their efforts are a testimony to prove that actions matter, that a difference can always be made.
As President of the General Assembly I would like to specially congratulate the winners of the 2018 Prize and I invite them to stay firm in their convictions and never give up the fight.
I know the path you have chosen is the hardest, because it is a path where you fight every day and although your victories can sometimes be temporary, your efforts are worthwhile, they are necessary, because they have the potential to change the fate of the world.
You, dear winners, are part of our hope and for that, we are forever thankful.