ANKARA
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed the importance of Human Rights Day on Tuesday, saying that the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights elevated human rights to a global level.
In a statement released on Tuesday, he said "The protection and promotion of universal values relating to human rights, which form the basis of the Declaration, is among the basic elements of Turkish foreign policy."
"Turkey, while contributing to the advancement of human rights law and values at the international level by becoming a party to regional and international conventions and mechanisms in the field of fundamental rights and freedoms; also acts with determination with respect to the realization and implementation of the standards of fundamental rights and freedoms at the national level," Turkey's Foreign Minister continued.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed Dec. 10 as Human Rights Day in 1948 and formally adopted the day in 1950 to bring to the world's attention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, according to the UN's website.
The UN also announced that this year’s slogan, Human Rights 365, encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day.
"It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values," the organization says.
Cavusoglu also reiterated that Turkey is a party to core international human rights conventions and supports universal accession to them.
He added that his nation also maintains close cooperation with all UN mechanisms pertaining to fundamental rights and freedoms, in particular with the Human Rights Council.
"The full achievement of peace and stability in the world is closely related to expanding the practices based on respect for human rights as well as developing the means and capabilities that can effectively address human rights violations and humanitarian crises in various regions. Today, no policy or practice ignoring the people’s rights to freedom, equality and a life in dignity is acceptable. The international community should use all its available means for the common prosperity and happiness of mankind. Today, the constructive, remedial and preventive role and efforts of global and regional institutions are needed more than ever," Cavusoglu stated.
"With this understanding, we attach importance to the first-ever UN World Humanitarian Summit which we will host here in 2016. We believe that the Summit will set the future agenda in fields such as international humanitarian law, humanitarian action and assistance, and improve the norms that would strengthen international law and its implementation in such fields," he added.
Turkey was announced as the host country for the World Humanitarian Summit, during the UN General Assembly in September 2013. Istanbul will be the host city for the event.
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