Human Rights Day: seventy-five years of the 1948 declarations

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ambassadors, Mr. Secretary General, Mr. Assistant Secretary General, today we gather to commemorate something that lies in the heart of every human being: human rights. The Dominican Republic is proud to join this commemoration, because we know that when we speak of human rights we are speaking of the dreams and hopes of ordinary people, of people like us.

Let us remember that our history is woven by brave men and women who fought against the shadow of colonial domination and the policies of exclusion. From the courageous Friar Antonio de Montesinos, in 1511, to this day, our land has witnessed tireless defenders of freedom and equality.

Mr. Chair, it was seventy-five years ago, in 1948, a year that marked a before and an after in world history, when, as one voice, we proclaimed two powerful declarations of human rights, declarations that not only recognized our inalienable rights but also posed a challenge: how to live up to those ideals.

The Dominican Republic, like many nations present here, signed those declarations. But let us be honest: signing was not enough. At that time, our region lay under the shadow of dictatorships; yet even in those dark times, these declarations served as a beacon of hope. They gave us the courage to fight for a social and democratic state governed by the rule of law, a dream that today is closer than ever.

We remember also the heroes and heroines who have instilled human rights in our national identity. But, ambassadors, we cannot stop there. In an increasingly digitalized world, we must find new ways. We must adapt our mechanisms to ensure that these rights are not merely words on paper but lived realities for every citizen, for future generations.

The Dominican Republic is committed to that goal. Our National Human Rights Plan is more than a document; it is a commitment to justice and to equity. And allow me to say, with great humility and honor, that our recent election to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations is a testimony to our dedication to those values. It is not only an achievement for the Dominican Republic; it is a renewed commitment to the world to confront challenges such as inequality, discrimination and armed conflict.

Now we look ahead. We face ideologies that seek to deny these fundamental rights. We cannot, we must not allow the progress we have achieved to fade away.

This commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary is not only a reminder of our past; it is a call to action, a call to renew our collective commitment.

To conclude, on the road ahead, let us recall the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, who reminded us that human rights begin at home, in the small gestures of every day. Each of us has a part to play. Together we can build a world where human dignity is not only a right but a lived reality.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.