Mandela, Optimism and Universal Human Rights

Introduction

Distinguished guests, fellow human rights advocates, and admirers of Nelson Mandela,

Called together by our friends at Nelson Mandela Day Australia, we gather today to celebrate three anniversaries.

First, the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a cornerstone of global progress and justice.

Second, the 25th anniversary of Mandela's speech on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.

And third, the tenth anniversary of the death of Nelson Mandela and his enduring legacy as a beacon of optimism and hope and a champion of human rights.

Mandela's life paralleled the Universal Declaration. The Declaration served as a beacon of hope and a blueprint for a world Mandela relentlessly pursued. Despite witnessing great injustice, he never relinquished his unwavering optimism and dedication to building a more just and equitable society. Mandela's life became a living embodiment of the ideals enshrined within the Declaration, proving its relevance and power to inspire generations in the fight for a brighter future.

Personal Connection

This struggle for human rights is more than an abstract concept for me.

It is woven into the very fabric of my family history. My parents and maternal grandparents were refugees themselves, escaping the horrors of war and oppression. Generations before that endured invasion by Swedes and Russians alike.

The Soviet NKVD tortured my grandfather to death, and sent my grandmother to the Gulag for over a decade.

Their experiences instilled in me a deep appreciation for the preciousness of freedom and the importance of fighting for human rights. They taught me the power of optimism and resilience, the necessity of compassion, and the unwavering belief in the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity.

My sister Regina, who is here, was inspired. She served as a Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and many other agencies. Her Queen's Birthday Honour "for service to administrative law and to the community, particularly in the areas of equal opportunity and multiculturalism".

For me, there's been a lifelong commitment to human rights through politics, parliament, the law, and positive leadership through optimism.

It inspired my Masters Thesis on “Humanitarian Intervention in the New World Order.”

I was honoured to be a member of the Australian delegation to the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights, which reviewed progress on the Universal Declaration.

So, too, as the inaugural Chair of the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee, we worked diligently to apply the principles of the Declaration in Victorian law and government administration.

It took me to South Africa after the election of Mandela as President and the first post-Apartheid government to help develop ways of writing laws in accord with these principles. So too to Rwanda after the genocide.

Why was that important?

As Volker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said this week, “Human rights must be at the centre of governance – not just in of beautiful speeches by high-level officials. They must be in policies and in laws, and guide how these laws and policies are implemented. They must be the common thread, running through all aspects of governance, economy, and society.”

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article One: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948, under the chairmanship of Australia's Foreign Minister "Doc" Evatt.

This pivotal document, a cornerstone in the history of human rights, articulated a comprehensive range of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.

It set forth fundamental rights such as the right to life, liberty, freedom from torture, the right to a fair trial, and freedoms of thought, expression, and religion. It emphasised economic and social rights, including the rights to work, education, and an adequate standard of living, underpinning principles of equality, non-discrimination, and the inherent dignity of people.

Since its inception, the Declaration has undergone reviews and has been the focus of several pivotal conferences to evaluate its implementation and address evolving human rights issues.

A significant milestone in this ongoing review process was the 1993 United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in which I was a part of the Australian delegation led by Foreign Minister Gareth Evans whose recent book is entitled “The Incorrigible Optimist.”

As Volker Turk said, this conference was critical in reaffirming the global commitment to human rights. It was tough and harrowing and it added much to my knowledge.

It resulted in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which underscored the universality of human rights and emphasised national-level implementation.

One of the significant outcomes of the Vienna Conference was the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights which Volker now fills.

The Declaration’s Impact

 The Declaration's impact has been profound.

 The Declaration has empowered individuals and advocacy groups to call their governments to account for human rights violations. It provides a framework for activism and defending those under threat. It has become a reference point in international relations, influencing international policies and dialogues concerning human rights.

 Hunger and Poverty: Since 1948, the world has seen remarkable advancements in combating hunger and poverty, partly attributable to the Declaration's influence on global policies. By advocating for everyone's right to an adequate standard of living, including access to food, clothing, housing, and medical care, the Declaration has helped shape international and national strategies focused on improving healthcare, education, and economic conditions. This has resulted in increased life expectancy, reduced child mortality, and a significant decline in absolute poverty, although there is still work to do to address the remaining disparities.

 Despite these advancements, the struggle to protect and realise the rights enshrined in the Declaration continues.

 We see this in our media every week.

Contemporary Questions on the Declaration’s Usefulness

The Declaration, a living document, must adapt to contemporary challenges like digital technology, artificial intelligence, climate change, and global pandemics, which present new human rights concerns.

Seventy-five years on, the Declaration's importance is magnified amidst contemporary crises where civilians and the vulnerable face horrific human rights violations. In regions such as Ukraine, Myanmar, Gaza, Yemen and Syria the breaches of the Declaration are profound, particularly with attacks on essential infrastructure for clean water, sanitation, food, and energy.

 These acts, which strike at the life-supporting essentials of at-risk populations, highlight an urgent need for action in accordance with the Declaration's principles to address and mitigate such dire human rights challenges.

Critics from the left and autocratic regimes challenge the Declaration, labeling it a product of post-war Western liberalism steeped in Christian values. This critique is exemplified by the Chinese Communist Party's dismissal of these human rights norms.[1]

In a bleak summary this week, the UN Secretary General António Guterres said, “The world is losing its way. Conflicts are raging. Poverty and hunger are increasing. Inequalities are deepening. The climate crisis is a human rights crisis that is hitting the most vulnerable hardest. Authoritarianism is on the rise.”

 To which I would reply by quoting the new President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam who said "Creating bases for optimism has to be our central task everywhere in the world and through global collaboration. We must create bases for optimism to see ourselves through this long storm and to emerge intact; emerge a better place, and it can be done."

 And ask the people! Most people believe the concept of human rights retains relevance and value globally. When researchers ask if human rights have been a “force for good in the world,” over 70 percent of people agree. When given the statement “human rights reflect values that I believe in,” over 70% agree with less than 10% disagreeing.

 The ongoing commitment of people like us to the Declaration's principles are paramount in ensuring that the promise of the Human Rights remains a living reality for all people. 

It’s Personal: If Not Me, Who?

 Eleanor Roosevelt's passion was pivotal in the drafting and adoption of the Universal Declaration.

 In 1958, on the tenth anniversary, Mrs Roosevelt launched a booklet, "In Your Hands: A Guide for Community Action."

 She said, "Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."

 We enhance every person's dignity and optimism when we greet them with a smile on the street and in the workplace.

 We enhance their optimism and joy when we ask about the best things that happen to them rather than a mumbling "How are You" responded to with "Not Too Bad."

 Share the stories of what's good, yet be open to people’s need to share stories of sadness and grief.

 A simple thank you for a service rendered or a small courtesy is a step forward in making the Declaration a reality in people's lives.

Conclusion

The Dalai Lama, speaking of the 75th anniversary, said, "Inspired by this Declaration, I am optimistic that people throughout the world are increasingly conscious of the fundamental value of human rights. There is a great and growing desire for change in the world – change, founded on a non-violent approach to resolving conflicts, peacefully, on the basis of dialogue."

In this spirit of optimism, hope and action, let us continue the journey towards a world where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ideals become a reality for as many as possible.

How do we do that?

The Dalai Lama would urge us to take a minute of meditation.

So, close your eyes. Imagine yourself looking in the mirror on this day 5 years from now. 2028.

What will you look like? Who will you be surrounded by? What will you be doing do make human rights a reality for those around you and for the world?

Open your eyes again!

Turn to the person beside you and smile.

Channel your optimism and inspiration to spread the values of human rights.

Today and tomorrow, pass on these principles to someone beyond this space, sharing the message further."

Thank you for doing me the honour to listen to this address.

 Let’s now take up some time for questions, answers and conversation.

Read more in "Optimism: The How and Why" by Victor Perton, CEO of The Centre for Optimism.