Human rights, everyone’s responsibility: UN

December 10 2007 12:17 PM

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Respecting and protecting each other’s rights is a collective responsibility, says UN resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative Richard Dictus.

He made the comment while officiating at the seventh RRRT Pacific Human Rights Awards last night.

Dictus said it is important to keep a global focus on the declaration of human rights.

“We need to speak out as and when and every time they (breach of human rights) occur. We need to speak out, we need to address issues of human rights and we need to do this continuously.

“We need to protect those that we love. The human cost and losses can’t be expressed in words. Human rights is so difficult to obtain but it is so easy to lose,” Dictus said.

The award was scooped by Kup Women for Peace, Papua New Guinea for its outstanding peace work during conflict while the first runner-up went to the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association in Vanuatu for seeking structural change in the face of widespread prejudice.

Second runner-up went to the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre for its bravery and courage in the face of threats and intimidation; protecting and defending the rights of Fijian citizens and in so doing, so nobly fulfilling the functions of a national human rights institution.

Third runner-up went to Pacific Counseling and Social Services (Fiji) for upholding the dignity of women living with HIV and for respecting their human rights to privacy.

A total of 21 applications were received – 7 from Fiji and 14 from Vanuatu, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomons, PNG and French Polynesia.

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