Liz Lynne welcomes 60 years of Human Rights Declaration.

12.00.00am GMT Wed 10th Dec 2008

West Midlands LibDem MEP Liz Lynne has today spoken of the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which celebrates its 60th anniversary today as part of International Human rights Day.

The declaration, which came about as a response to the horrors of the Second World War, lays out the fundamental rights of every human being, including the rights to life and to freedom of speech.

Liz Lynne is a member of the Human Rights Sub- Committee in the European Parliament and has been a long time campaigner for human rights both in Britain, the rest of Europe and across the world. Most recently Liz launched the Blue Blindfold campaign in the European Parliament. The campaign seeks to raise awareness of human trafficking, one of the most prominent forms of modern day slavery.

Speaking to mark International Human rights Day Liz said:

"The Universal declaration of Human Rights is one of the most important documents in modern history. For 60 years it has set the course of human rights around the world and given countries a clear statement about what is and is not acceptable when it comes to the treatment of their people.

"Unfortunately there are still areas in which these rights are not followed. From the plight of political dissidents in China, to the treatment of Roma people in Italy, there is still work to be done if we are to truly create a world in which human rights are paramount.

"In the years before the declaration we saw millions of people murdered by the Nazi party because of their religion or their sexual orientation, we must do all we can to make sure that such bloodshed never happens again.

"I Hope that people the world over use today as a time to reflect on what can be done to further the cause of human rights and to remember why these rights are so important."