您现在的位置是:网站首页 > 正能量文章 > 正文
英语演讲稿Eleanor Roosevelt《Address to the United Nations General Assembly》-正能量
On the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Mr. President, fellow delegates:
The long and meticulous study and debate of which this Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the product means that it reflects the composite views of the many men and governments who have contributed to its formulation. Not every man nor every government can have what he wants in a document of this kind. There are of course particular provisions in the Declaration before us with which we are not fully satisfied. I have no doubt this is true of other delegations, and it would still be true if we continued our labors over many years. Taken as a whole the Delegation of the United States believes that this is a good document -- even a great document -- and we propose to give it our full support. The position of the United States on the various parts of the Declaration is a matter of record in the Third Committee. I shall not burden the Assembly, and particularly my colleagues of the Third Committee, with a restatement of that position here.
I should like to comment briefly on the amendments proposed by the Soviet delegation. The language of these amendments has been dressed up somewhat, but the substance is the same as the amendments which were offered by the Soviet delegation in committee and rejected after exhaustive discussion. Substantially the same amendments have been previously considered and rejected in the Human Rights Commission. We in the United States admire those who fight for their convictions, and the Soviet delegation has fought for their convictions. But in the older democracies we have learned that sometimes we bow to the will of the majority. In doing that, we do not give up our convictions. We continue sometimes to persuade, and eventually we may be successful. But we know that we have to work together and we have to progress. So, we believe that when we have made a good fight, and the majority is against us, it is perhaps better tactics to try to cooperate.
I feel bound to say that I think perhaps it is somewhat of an imposition on this Assembly to have these amendments offered again here, and I am confident that they will be rejected without debate.
The first two paragraphs of the amendment to article 3 deal with the question of minorities, which committee 3 decided required further study, and has recommended, in a separate resolution, their reference to the Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Commission. As set out in the Soviet amendment, this provision clearly states group, and not individual, rights.
The Soviet amendment to article 20 is obviously a very restrictive statement of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. It sets up standards which would enable any state practically to deny all freedom of opinion and expression without violating the article. It introduces the terms democratic view, democratic systems, democratic state, and fascism, which we know all too well from debates in this Assembly over the past two years on warmongering and related subjects are liable to the most flagrant abuse and diverse interpretations.
The statement of the Soviet delegate here tonight is a very good case in point on this. The Soviet amendment of article 22 introduces new elements into the article without improving the committed text and again introduces specific reference to discrimination. As was repeatedly pointed out in committee 3, the question of discrimination is comprehensively covered in article 2 of the Declaration, so that its restatement elsewhere is completely unnecessary and also has the effect of weakening the comprehensive principles stated in article 2. The new article proposed by the Soviet delegation is but a restatement of State obligation, which the Soviet delegation attempted to introduce into practically every article in the Declaration. It would convert the Declaration into a document stating obligations on states, thereby changing completely its character as a statement of principles to serve as a common standard of achievement for the members of the United Nations.
The Soviet proposal for deferring consideration of the Declaration to the 4th session of the Assembly requires no comment. An identical text was rejected in committee 3 by a vote of 6 in favor and 26 against. We are all agreed, I am sure, that the Declaration, which has been worked on with such great effort and devotion, and over such a long period of time, must be approved by this Assembly at this session.
Certain provisions of the Declaration are stated in such broad terms as to be acceptable only because of the provisions in article 30 providing for limitation on the exercise of the rights for the purpose of meeting the requirements of morality, public order, and the general welfare. An example of this is the provision that everyone has the right to equal access to the public service in his country. The basic principle of equality and of nondiscrimination as to public employment is sound, but it cannot be accepted without limitation. My government, for example, would consider that this is unquestionably subject to limitation in the interest of public order and the general welfare. It would not consider that the exclusion from public employment of persons holding subversive political beliefs and not loyal to the basic principles and practices of the constitution and laws of the country would in any way infringe upon this right.
Likewise, my government has made it clear in the course of the development of the Declaration that it does not consider that the economic and social and cultural rights stated in the Declaration imply an obligation on governments to assure the enjoyment of these rights by direct governmental action. This was made quite clear in the Human Rights Commission text of article 23 which served as a so-called umbrella article to the articles on economic and social rights. We consider that the principle has not been affected by the fact that this article no longer contains a reference to the articles which follow it. This in no way affects our whole-hearted support for the basic principles of economic, social, and cultural rights set forth in these articles.
In giving our approval to the Declaration today it is of primary importance that we keep clearly in mind the basic character of the document. It is not a treaty; it is not an international agreement. It is not and does not purport to be a statement of law or of legal obligation. It is a Declaration of basic principles of human rights and freedoms, to be stamped with the approval of the General Assembly by formal vote of its members, and to serve as a common standard of achievement for all peoples of all nations.
We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind. This Universal Declaration of Human Rights may well become the international Magna Carta of all men everywhere. We hope its proclamation by the General Assembly will be an event comparable to the proclamation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man by the French people in 1789, the adoption of the Bill of Rights by the people of the United States, and the adoption of comparable declarations at different times in other countries.
At a time when there are so many issues on which we find it difficult to reach a common basis of agreement, it is a significant fact that 58 states have found such a large measure of agreement in the complex field of human rights. This must be taken as testimony of our common aspiration first voiced in the Charter of the United Nations to lift men everywhere to a higher standard of life and to a greater enjoyment of freedom. Man’s desire for peace lies behind this Declaration. The realization that the flagrant violation of human rights by Nazi and Fascist countries sowed the seeds of the last world war has supplied the impetus for the work which brings us to the moment of achievement here today.
In a recent speech in Canada, Gladstone Murray said:
The central fact is that man is fundamentally a moral being, that the
light we have is imperfect does not matter so long as we are always
trying to improve it … we are equal in sharing the moral freedom that
distinguishes us as men. Man’s status makes each individual an end in
himself. No man is by nature simply the servant of the state or of
another man … the ideal and fact of freedom -- and not
technology -- are the true distinguishing marks of our civilization.
This Declaration is based upon the spiritual fact that man must have freedom in which to develop his full stature and through common effort to raise the level of human dignity. We have much to do to fully achieve and to assure the rights set forth in this Declaration. But having them put before us with the moral backing of 58 nations will be a great step forward.
As we here bring to fruition our labors on this Declaration of Human Rights, we must at the same time rededicate ourselves to the unfinished task which lies before us. We can now move on with new courage and inspiration to the completion of an international covenant on human rights and of measures for the implementation of human rights.
In conclusion, I feel that I cannot do better than to repeat the call to action by Secretary Marshall in his opening statement to this Assembly:
Let this third regular session of the General Assembly approve by an
overwhelming majority the Declaration of Human Rights as a
standard of conduct for all; and let us, as Members of the United
Nations, conscious of our own short-comings and imperfections, join
our effort in good faith to live up to this high standard.
更新于:2023-04-09 11:14上一篇:英语演讲稿Lyndon Baines Johnson《Let Us Continue》-正能量
下一篇:英语演讲稿Gerald R. Ford《Address on Taking the Oath of the U.S. Presidency》-正能量
相关文章
- 工作积极向上正能量的句子--5篇
- 工作中正能量励志经典语录
- 生活中的正能量句子--5篇
- 生活正能量的句子大全--5篇
- 积极向上正能量的句子--5篇
- 励志上进正能量句子--集锦6篇
- 早上好励志正能量句子--锦集5篇
- 晚安心语正能量--5篇
- 励志上进正能量句子大全--6篇
- 工作正能量句子干净简短--5篇
- 鼓励团队工作正能量句子2024--5篇
- 早上好正能量的励志句子--集锦5篇
- 励志上进正能量句子【5篇】
- 积极努力的正能量句子励志--5篇
- 激励上进正能量句子精选--6篇
- 激励上进正能量句子名言2024--5篇
- 有冲劲的正能量句子--集锦5篇
- 激励自己上进正能量的句子--5篇
- 适合发朋友圈正能量短句--5篇
- 带有正能量的晚安心语--5篇
文章评论
本栏推荐
-
关于想吃榴莲的心情说说
1、自从上次吃榴莲雪花冰被榴莲圈粉后,我每天睡前想吃榴莲。2、想吃火锅,想吃烧烤,..
-
关于瘦子想增肥的说说句子
1、瘦子想增肥,看看别人怎么增肥吧不想下一个许久不见你的人说,你咋又瘦了。2、有很..
-
阳光句子简短励志
阳光句子简短励志这篇正能量励志的句子是拼搏的句子网站从励志电影、名人励志语录中摘..
-
关于不喜欢雨天的心情说说
1、不喜欢雨天,是因为雨天里心情会很低落,很迷茫,害怕雨天里的闪电和雷声,有时,..
-
关于微信朋友圈发吃西瓜的说说句子
1、山上好冷,我现在就处于晚穿棉袄午穿纱,怀抱火炉吃西瓜的状态。2、最近最大运动量..
-
思考未来的励志句子
思考未来的励志句子这篇正能量励志的句子是说说励志网站从励志电影、名人励志语录中摘..
-
关于发现自己不重要的说说句子
1、当工作忙碌到废寝忘食,你就会发现什么都不重要了。经营好自己,该来的只是时间问..
-
叙事作文-模板18篇
充实自己的头脑,才能在竞争激烈的社会中立于不败之地。完美的总结要抓住核心要点,避..
-
关于坐车晕车难受的说说 晕车的朋友圈说说句子
1、晕车原来是这种感觉,好难受。像是什么东西压在胸口,呼吸不畅快,胸闷想吐。2、昨..
-
告别过去迎接未来句子大全
告别过去迎接未来句子(一) 最痛苦的不是失败的泪水,而是不曾努力的懊悔,别让自己..