We are celebrating the 63rd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. This Declaration, which raised human rights to universal level on the basis of basic common contemporary principles, stands as the reference document in the domain of fundamental rights and freedoms.

In this year’s commemoration, the UN is placing the emphasis on the popular movements which have marked the past months and the improvements these movements have engendered on the protection of human rights and democratization. An important factor is that the protesters were helped by new technologies in using their right to expression and communication.

Attaching particular importance to freedom of speech within the framework of efforts towards securing the fundamental rights and freedoms, Turkey conducts consistant and resolute policies. These policies have positive effects on fulfilling our obligations regarding the international conventions to which we are party in the Council of Europe at the regional level and in the UN at the international level as well as on our ongoing efficient cooperation with monitoring mechanisms.

Turkey, being cited as a model in the field of respect of fundamental rights and freedoms as well as democratization, plays an active and a constructive role in the developments in its region.

Protection and promotion of universal values in human rights is one of the main pillars of Turkish foreign policy. To this aim, Turkey contributes to the improvement of human rights in a world that is becoming ever more global on the one hand and, on the other hand, exerts utmost effort to set highest standards in Turkey and supports similar efforts in other states. 

Based on a universal approach to human rights, Turkey continues its constructive efforts in international fora through actively participating in the work of UN Human Rights Council.

Having supported the initiatives aiming at preventing violations of rights at conflict situations in line with the importance it attached to the protection of human rights during its membership of the UN Security Council for the term 2009-2010, Turkey aims at maintaining this support through reelection for the term of 2015-2016.

Determined to strive for a world in which every individual’s human rights are respected, I sincerely celebrate the Human Rights Day of our people and the international community.