UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for the advancement of human rights, saying there is still a long way to go 70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The declaration marked the first time that countries had ever come together to recognize that all people, everywhere, are born free and equal and share fundamental, inalienable rights, Guterres told a commemorative meeting of the UN General Assembly for the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"Our challenge remains to translate it into reality for all people everywhere," he said.
Women, men and children all over the world still endure constraints on -- or even total denial of -- their human rights. Torture, extrajudicial killings, detention without trial and other egregious human rights violations persist. Untold women and girls face daily insecurity, violence and discrimination. And today we are seeing a rising tide of authoritarianism, intolerance, xenophobia and racism, he noted.
The declaration is much more than a source of inspiration and a statement of principles. Its 30 articles constitute practical measures for advancing peace and inclusive development beyond human rights, he said. "It is only by respecting and promoting human rights that we can achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda of sustainable, diverse, inclusive and peaceful societies thriving on a healthy planet."
