On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Rafto Foundation, a declaration was presented by the Rafto Laureates who were present in Bergen: Vo Van Ai on behalf of Thich Quang Do, Lidija Jusupova, Rebiya Kadeer, Paulos Tesfagiorgis, Shirin Ebadi, Ian Hancock, ECPAT, Peter Molnar, Leyla Zana, Trivimi Velliste and Jan Hajek on behalf of late Jiri Hajek. (09-NOV-06)

Declaration:

We call for a renewed international commitment to human rights. At a time when security concerns threaten to erode the international human rights regime, we issue a warning and emphasise that respect for human rights and the dignity and worth of each and every human being is the only sustainable road to freedom, justice and peace and thereby also to security.

A commitment to human rights is more than to recognise human rights as ideals and lofty principles. Dedication to human rights requires that we accept them as a standard against which to measure and judge the means by which we pursue our aims. Human rights thus must be accepted as ethical norms and as binding international law.

Hence, while we strongly denounce the disregard and contempt for human rights that forms part of every act of terrorism, we also denounce responses to terrorist threats that disregard and undermine international human rights norms. If we respond to threats against our freedom and human dignity by negating the norms through which these fundamental values are expressed and protected, we surrender our humanity.

Therefore, and as much as we recognise the duty of states to protect their citizens´ right to life, integrity and freedom from fear, we denounce all use of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment as unjustified and fundamental violations of our common humanity. We also call on all States to respect Articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile, and that everyone is entitled to a fair, and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

A commitment to human rights entails to respect and promote the dignity and worth of all human beings and the equal rights of men and women. It is a pledge to respect diversity, to let a multitude of voices be heard and given consideration and respect. The values of tolerance and engagement are fundamental to an open society. Lastly, we therefore call on all to respect the freedom of speech and of belief. A society that silences its critics – whether through terror, censorship, or by incarcerating or killing them – is hindered in its development.


Bergen, November 4, 2006