Co-Chairs Honor Human Rights Anniversaries
Washington, D.C. – Congressmen Jim McGovern and Chris Smith, Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued the following statement in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders, and the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
“As co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, we are proud to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders, and the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, whose mission is framed by the Universal Declaration.
“We know from personal experience the power of the Universal Declaration to inspire hope and action in places and under conditions where both can seem beyond reach. We have met time and again with brave human rights defenders who have made a difference in the lives of untold numbers of people through their untiring advocacy efforts. Through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, we have the privilege of working with them in support of their human rights causes. We celebrate these anniversaries in their name.”
On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Drafted by representatives from all regions of the world, the Declaration set out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. In the decades since, the Universal Declaration has inspired and informed many subsequent human rights treaties and declarations. Among the latter is the UN Declaration on human rights defenders, approved by the General Assembly in 1998 in recognition of civil society’s crucial role in the defense and promotion of human rights.
The bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, composed of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, promotes, defends and advocates for international human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related human rights instruments.