On 10 December 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration, whose principles are still valid today, states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Today, when we are witnesses to human rights violations around the world, we have to persevere in realizing freedom and equality as well as protecting and promoting human rights. Violence in armed conflicts, inequality before law, denying the freedom of speech, not punishing perpetrators of crime, violence against women and girls, suffering of children ion armed conflicts, hate speech, human trafficking, torture, degrading conduct and forced disappearance are just some of the things we are faced with on daily basis even today.
The protection and promotion of human rights are the cornerstones of Croatia’s foreign policy, through which we aim to contribute to international peace, security and progress. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs will continue to warn about human rights violations and participate in international activities conducive to the realization of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is why on this day we are underlining the universality of human rights as well as the significance of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and send a message that human rights violations have to be stopped and every human being be allowed to enjoy freedom, equality and dignity.
As a member state of the European Union, United Nations and international organizations, Croatia will continue to take part in activities directed at protecting vulnerable groups, preventing human rights violations and continuously promoting human rights in international relations, in all parts of the world as well as in Croatia.