Portugal celebrates International Human Rights Day

patricia pilar December 10, 2018

1 minute read

The Portuguese Government today marks the International Human Rights Day celebrating achievements and reflecting on the way forward to ensure the universality of these rights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced today.

“On International Human Rights Day, we celebrate the achievements, but at the same time, we reflect on the way forward to ensure the universality of Human Rights,” reads the statement from the MFA.

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the proclamation of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to the note, “the International Human Rights Day is of special importance this year for celebrating the 40th anniversary of our country’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.”

“The system of human rights protection of the United Nations and the Council of Europe is one of the great achievements of the 20th century. The realization of human rights is not a given, however – there are risks of stagnation and setbacks that we must combat “the document said.

According to the MFA, the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 40th anniversary of Portugal’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights have been marked by a vast program of celebrations.

“This program aimed at giving greater visibility to human rights, promoting active citizenship and raising awareness of the rights of all, including through human rights education,” the statement said.

Portugal, according to the statement from the MFA, renews today “the unconditional commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, with its timeless values and principles – we are all free and equal in dignity and rights.”