The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, released the following declaration for the international Human Rights Day:
«With the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights almost 70 years ago, the General Assembly of the United Nations did not only embrace a number of principles of fundamental legal and political importance, but also provided the international community with an essential instrument with which to guide the activity of States in recognising the protection of the rights of every human individual.
Bearing witness to the enduring universality of the values that inspired it in 1948, as well as today, the Declaration maintains its topicality intact.
This is the meaning of the Human Rights Day, which is celebrated today throughout the world to remind us that respecting human dignity and promoting the principles of equality and justice constitute the pillars of a fair society, capable of respecting differences and of building on the contribution that each individual gives to the general wellbeing.
In the many crisis scenarios that afflict our Planet, we daily witness episodes of violence, abuse and discrimination, especially against the most vulnerable groups and ethnic or religious minorities. At times even the most basic human rights are unacceptably violated. Faced with this mismatch between principles declared and their application, the international community is called upon to undertake consistent action to promote every individual's fundamental liberties in all contexts without distinction, on the basis of the principles of the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights.
We must stay alert in order to assure the victims increasingly higher levels of protection, thanks to the contribution both of the specialised agencies and of the civil society organisations active in defending human rights. »
Rome, 10 December 2017
