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Links between UN's founding pillars crucial in today's world: UN head

Xinhua, March 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

As the 31st Human Rights Council (HRC) session opened Monday, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon stressed the pivotal role played by human rights, peace and security together with development in light of the connected world of today.

"Long-term peace and security cannot exist without human rights for all. Sustainable development is impossible without peace and security. Human rights are the very foundation of our common humanity," he said in a high-level panel discussion in the Palais des Nations' Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room.

Representing the three pillars upon which the UN was founded, these guiding principles were established by the UN Charter 70 years ago.

The UN head, who took up office in 2007 and whose second mandate will end in December this year, explained that one of his priorities has been to bring these pillars together, while using human rights as a compass to guide initiatives.

"The Human Rights Up Front initiative aims to achieve this by recognizing the value of identifying rights violations as early warning signs of crises to come," he explained, a particularly relevant point in light of crises affecting millions in countries such as Syria, Yemen and Ukraine.

"At this time of multiple conflicts and skyrocketing humanitarian need, we must do more to prevent crises and protect people," the 71-year-old diplomat reminded.

"This will be one of the main calls to action at the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul on May 23 and 24 -- an opportunity to come together with solutions and partnerships to uphold human dignity and our common humanity," he added.

Ban also observed the importance of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was formally adopted by the 193-Member UN General Assembly in September last year, as a means to forward human rights in the world.

"The Agenda reminds us that human rights include the right to development, and that society is only as strong as its weakest member," he said.

"The integrated, indivisible and universal nature of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is deeply rooted in universal human rights," he concluded.

The 31st HRC session will take place between Feb. 29 and March 24. Endit