10th December Human Rights Day Message from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon

When the Nigerian political activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged along with eight other Ogoni leaders by the Abacha regime in 1995, Commonwealth leaders, who were meeting in New Zealand, immediately took action to suspend Nigeria from the association.

They also established the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to deal with serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth principles.

Nigeria today is a different country. In 1995 its leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo, was in detention. Last year, as the new Chairperson of the Commonwealth, he presided over the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, where leaders reiterated their commitment to "democracy, good governance, human rights, gender equality and a more equitable sharing of the benefits of globalisation." 

Since 1995, the Commonwealth has continued to take a strong stand on human rights.  Real progress has been achieved not only in Nigeria but many other parts of the Commonwealth.  But as we mark Human Rights Day on 10 December, we should remember that violations of human rights are still being perpetrated every day, everywhere in the world.

Despite international commitments to human rights (as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Vienna Declaration and the Millennium Declaration for example), every day, individuals are victims of unlawful arrest, harassment and discrimination; thousands of women are trafficked for prostitution and sex slavery; millions of children are still denied access to basic education.

It is important to recognise that respect for human rights is intimately linked to social and economic development. Giving women equal rights to work and own property helps boost the economic prospects of a country. Allowing citizens to voice their views freely and peacefully about matters that concern them helps promote tolerance and stability. And taking children off the streets and into schools, and protecting them against abuse, exploitation and trafficking is one of the most effective ways of investing in the future.

It is also important to remember that no country in the world is immune to human rights violations. No one can afford to be complacent. In recent times, some have argued that in certain circumstances, violations of human rights may be justifiable in the pursuit of greater stability and security in the world. This is wrong. Global stability cannot be achieved at the expense of human rights. No one in the world can ever be secure as long as individuals are denied their fundamental rights.

We are all born with human rights but we are not born knowing about them. That is why education and a strong independent media have such a crucial role to play. The Commonwealth works with international partners to promote respect for human rights and advance the adoption and implementation of international human rights standards. The Commonwealth Secretariat's Human Rights Unit is developing a human rights curriculum for the police in West Africa and is incorporating human rights in education programmes in Asia. We also support citizenship education programmes to help ensure children grow up free of prejudice and hatred.

As we look to the future with hope and expectation, we in the Commonwealth will continue to promote fundamental rights and freedoms and oppose human rights abuses wherever they occur.