US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Speaker
Statement by US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken
December 10, 2023
We live by the principle that all people are born free and equal with their inherent human rights. This principle, the result of the foresight and humility of our ancestors, was enshrined 75 years ago today by the UN General Assembly when it adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which almost every country in the world has now acceded, enumerates the human rights that must be universally protected and sets a common standard of freedom and dignity for all people of all nations.
As we look back on the first 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we recognize what we have achieved in that time, but we also know that much remains to be done. Too often authorities fail to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms or, worse, trample on them, often in the name of security or to maintain power. Be it by unjustly detaining and detaining journalists and dissidents, by restricting a person's freedom of religion or belief, or by committing atrocities and genocides, human rights violations and abuses that undermine progress in support of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Given these measures, we must push for better protection of human rights and promote accountability whenever we observe violations or abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must continue to be our guide as we strive to create the world we want to live in. His message is as important today as it was 75 years ago: human rights belong to everyone, everywhere.
The original text can be found at: Human Rights Day – United States Department of State
This translation is provided with permission and only the original English source should be relied upon.