Raül Romeva i Rueda

REFLEXIONS PERISCÒPIQUES

La UE i el Dret a l’Autodeterminació (discurs de la Presidència a les NNUU l’any 2001)

Per a informació.

Adjunto a continuació el discurs de Michiel Maertens, qui va ser Primer Secretari de la representació Permanent de Bèlgica, el 31 d’octubre de 2001 durant la conferència dels Drets dels pobles a l’autodeterminació, a les Nacions Unides (Nova York), en nom de la presidència de la Unió Europea. El vincle el podeu trobar directament al lloc web de la UE.

 

 

EU Presidency Statement – The right to self-determination

Summary: October 31, 2001: Statement on behalf of the European Union by Mr. Michiel Maertens, First Secretary at the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the United Nations. Rights of peoples to self-determination (New York)

Mr Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union on agenda item 118 “Right of peoples to self-determination”.

The right of peoples to self-determination features prominently in the main instruments concerning human rights, such as the United Nations Charter or the two International Covenants on civil and political rights and on economic, social and cultural rights respectively.

As the United Nations Charter points out, the development of good relations between nations must be founded on the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples. This right has lost none of its relevance in the present international context and continues to claim the attention of the international community as an integral part of those human rights the observance and protection of which must be ensured by States.

This right, in accordance with which peoples freely determine their own political status and freely provide for their own economic, social and cultural development, illustrates clearly the interdependence and indivisibility of human rights recognized at the Vienna Conference on Human Rights in 1993. Making this right a reality requires full observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on the part of States.

For this right to be effectively applied, a number of conditions need to be fulfilled. Freedom of expression and of opinion must be guaranteed to allow all individuals to debate public affairs and express themselves freely on the choices made by the State. Freedom of conscience and of religion must be ensured. And the importance of free and independent media becomes evident here. The opportunity to participate freely and fully in public life is also indispensable for the exercise of this right.

A further expression of the right of peoples to self-determination is the holding of free, regular and fair elections, which within the framework of a democratic society allow a country’s nationals to follow and support the action of the political institutions mandated by them to manage their interests and provide for public welfare. In this respect, each individual must be able to benefit from the right to assemble with others to defend his or her convictions. With this in view, the European Union reiterates the importance of promoting and reinforcing the proper management of public affairs, democracy and the rule of law throughout the world. The process of democratization is an essential stage in the recognition of the right of peoples to self-determination.

For the European Union, respect for this right cannot be disassociated from respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual and for fundamental human rights. The obligation to promote and protect this right is therefore included in full among the commitments given by States in the field of human rights.

Thank you.



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