The regulations and practices that ensued from the San Francisco Charter must be adapted to the new situation that has come about as the result of 60 years of international history.
"After decolonisation and the cold war, the fall of the Berlin Wall, economic globalisation and 9/11 have changed the face of the world" stressed Sidiki KABA, President of FIDH. He added "It is essential that the United Nations Organisation be provided with new means of dealing effectively with the consequences. FIDH resolutely supports the ambitious and realistic vision of Kofi Annan".
At a moment in time when its proposals are in danger of being set aside, FIDH calls on the many States that share in its vision to mobilise against the obscurantism, opportunism and demagogy of a handful of rulers whose obstructions - against the interest of their own people - risk reducing the efforts of a year of negotiations to nothing.
On 16th September 2005, FIDH expects States to play their part in making History. The International Criminal Court, ratified by 99 States, and the Human Rights Council that is envisioned as successor to the Commission, are amongst the most evident proposals for guaranteeing respect for basic human rights. They are also the most consistent with the universally proclaimed goal of ensuring respect for "all human rights for all". In any case, these are the principal concrete institutional proposals for the protection of persons from serious and systematic human rights violations. FIDH considers that to oppose these would be equivalent to being in favour of crime, whether on an individual or massive basis, an act of State officials, armed opposition groups, criminal groups or economic stakeholders.
The hope of the authors of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human rights in a world of "freedom from fear and want", is more than ever a universal hope.
"We, the people", in whose name the San Francisco Charter was proclaimed, have no right to vote at the Sixtieth Anniversary Summit meeting. We therefore expect all the more that the States uphold with responsibility the aspirations and interests of their people in the indivisible rights to "development, security and freedoms".