08 December 2004
U.S. Committed to Human Rights, Democracy Worldwide, Powell Says, December 8, 2004 (Addresses U.S. policy, Iraq, Middle East in Human Rights Day statement)
Secretary of State Colin Powell has reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the principles of equality and justice in law in honor of Human Rights Day on December 10. President Bush has also declared the week of December 10-17 as Human Rights Week.
The United States makes "important immediate and long-term investments in democracy and human rights" on every continent, said Powell. "Our fight for human rights will continue so long as tyrannical regimes infringe upon the freedom of citizens."
Powell specifically cited U.S. actions to promote human rights and democracy in South Asia and the Middle East, saying that the United States is working with the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan "so that human rights and democratic freedoms will be fully restored to people who have suffered years of oppression." Powell also mentioned his upcoming trip to Morocco for the inaugural Forum for the Future, an international initiative to promote democracy in the Broader Middle East and North Africa.
The United States remains "united with those countries that respect human dignity," stated Powell. The United States and its allies hold themselves to high standards in human rights protection, he said. "The struggle for freedom requires scrupulous adherence to human rights, not a relaxation of standards," added Powell.
Following is the text of the State Department statement:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Brussels, Belgium)
December 8, 2004
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
Human Rights Week
This year the government of the United States joins the global community in commemorating the 56th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Wrought from the horrors of the Second World War, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly to enshrine the principles of equality and justice in law.
In honor of this important event President George W. Bush has officially declared the week of December 10-17, 2004, to be Human Rights Week and December 10, 2004, to be Human Rights Day. In commemorating this week, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles which have come to characterize our nation.
The United States values the sanctity of the individual and is committed to preventing human rights abuses. Our country is one in which all citizens regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, religious faith or other characteristics, are entitled to enjoy equal opportunities and mutual peace.
Today, millions of people across the globe are denied basic human rights, and so on every continent we make important immediate and long-term investments in democracy and human rights. We are working with other countries to establish governments that are chosen by their own people through democratic processes. We are currently working hand-in-hand with the Afghan and Iraqi governments so that human rights and democratic freedoms will be fully restored to people who have suffered years of oppression. Additionally, I will be in Morocco for the first ever "Forum for the Future," which is an extraordinary gathering of nations offering us the opportunity to promote democracy and freedom to the Broader Middle East and North Africa.
Our fight for human rights will continue so long as tyrannical regimes infringe upon the freedom of citizens. Though this challenge remains formidable in the 21st century, we are committed to upholding the principle and practice of democracy. Meeting this challenge will require an unprecedented amount of cooperation among nations, and we stand united with those countries that respect human dignity. We hold our allies in the war on terror and ourselves to these standards. The struggle for freedom requires scrupulous adherence to human rights, not a relaxation of standards.
Please join the United States Department of State in celebrating Human Rights Week by learning more about international human rights from the website of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/. Together, we can pave the road towards equality and freedom for all persons around the world.
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