UNITED NATIONS (AP)–UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Thursday marked the 61st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a condemnation of racism and other forms of discrimination, which he said are not only a violation of human rights but also an obstacle to social and economic development.
He made his comments at the opening of an event entitled ‘Race, Poverty and Power’, held to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UN officials in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia joined the UN Chief in calling for greater progress in complying with the declaration that seeks to guarantee basic human rights for all.
In Geneva, various independent experts who advise the UN on human rights issued a joint statement warning efforts to end discrimination are falling short and are in some cases being reversed.
