New York-Brussels, December 9, 1998. On the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Radical Party joins the celebration of a document that represents a milestone for the creation of a new order, based on the force of the law instead of the law of the force.
The UDHR has positively affected life and happiness of humanity, inspiring constitutions, law and policies in every corner of the world. The number of tragedies that have all the same happened during those 50 years just testifies the need of stronger instruments of implementation of that Declaration.
The Radical Party takes this opportunity to address the Member States of the United Nations on three specific requests, which are also our priority goals:
1) To strengthen international jurisdiction for human rights
When national jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations, an international court should intervene. In particular we urge:
- the immediate ratification of the Treaty establishing the International Criminal Court. Sixty ratifications are needed for the coming into operation of the Court.
That goal should be obtained by the year 2000;
- a wider ratification of the other exhisting Treaties on Human Rights;
- the opening of a preliminary debate at the UN on the creation of a Universal Court of Human Rights.
2) To declare a worldwide moratorium on capital punishment
The right not to be killed by the State is a fundamental step to affirm the supreme value of life. After two years in a row of favorable pronunciations by the Commission on Human Rights, in 1999, the UNGA should finally approve a 5-year-worlwide moratorium on capital executions. This term could give the international community the time to prepare the eventual universal abolition of the death penalty.
3) To broadcast live on the Internet the debates on Human Rights at the UN
The possibility of publicizing the discussion on Human Rights policies could improve the legal and moral obligation of Governments in the implementation of Human Rights. The Commission on Human Rights, and the other UN bodies dealing with Human Rights should have their public meetings broadcast live on the Internet, to give to millions of people the opportunity of following the debate without any mediation. A UN "trust fund" open to private contributions should cover the costs.