Secretary of State Stettinius, speaking at a press conference today, concerning the provision on human rights proposed by the four sponsoring governments of the UNCIO for inclusion in the charter of the international organization, said that this provision was partially necessitated by “racial tensions that have been built up since the rise of Nazism and Fascism by systematic campaigns of hatred and prejudice.”
He emphasized that the provision “is a far reaching step because it would pledge the members of the world organization to cooperate effectively in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms for all individuals and peoples regardless of race, language, religion or sex.”
The United States Government, Mr. Stettinius said, will work “actively and tirelessly” towards the protection and promotion of these rights and freedoms. “We must be eternally vigilant against assaults upon them, he added. “We must also act affirmatively to enlarge the scope of their protection and to nourish their growth. As long as rights and freedoms are denied to some, the rights and freedoms of all are in danger. Everything possible must be done to bring effective life to the Commission on Human Rights.”
SAYS MEMBER GOVERNMENTS OF WORLD ORGANIZATION MUST IMPLEMENT RIGHTS
Mr. Stettinius pointed out that the provisions on human rights proposed for the charter will not assure, by themselves, the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms to all people. “The provisions are not made enforceabls by any international machinery,” he emphasized. “The responsibility rests with the member governments to carry them out. We can here make only a beginning, but I believe it is a good and substantial beginning,” he said. The Secretary of State pointed out that whether the opportunity for the promotion of human rights is used effectively or not, will depend upon the governments of the member nations, and upon the peoples who elect these governments to office.
The four sponsoring governments, he revealed, have agreed that an enumeration of individual and collective human rights and fundamental freedoms in the charter could not be attempted at this conference.
“I believe,” he said, “that when the international organization is established, the Economic and Social Council, through the Commission on Human Rights, should promptly undertake to prepare an international bill of rights which can be accepted by all the member nations as an integral part of their own system of law, just as our Bill of Rights has been an integral part of our system of laws.”
He added that the amendments on human rights are closely linked with the Amendments establishing equal rights and self-determination of peoples as one of the fundamental purposes of the international organization.
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