Governments, faith communities and individuals should strive to promote freedom, equality and social justice while respecting the world's different cultures and religions, said a Vatican official.Basic human rights "are not subject to historical ups and downs or convenient interpretations;" rather, they are inherent to every person, said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Vatican representative to U.N. agencies in Geneva.
The archbishop made his remarks Dec. 10 on the occasion of Human Rights Day and the start of a yearlong commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Speaking during a Human Rights Council session, Archbishop Tomasi said the universal declaration "remains the single most important reference point for cross-cultural discussion of human freedom and dignity in the world."
He said the rights outlined by the U.N. General Assembly and adopted Dec. 10, 1948, are "independent of and, in many ways, the result of all the ethical, social, cultural, and religious traditions" across the globe.
Human dignity transcends all cultural, political and religious differences "and it unites all humans in one family," he said.
All political and social institutions are thus called upon "to promote the integral development of any person, as an individual and in his or her relation with the community," said the archbishop.
Human dignity requires leaders from governmental, religious, civil, social and other sectors "to work for freedom, equality, social justice for all human beings, while respecting the world's cultural and religious mosaic," he said.
He said the debate on freedom of speech and respect for religious sensibilities "finds a solution in human dignity."
"I can only increase my own dignity, that is to enjoy human rights to the full, when I respect the dignity of others," he said.
There must be religious freedom for all people and adequate education to ensure that freedom is guaranteed; this is the proper strategy for arriving at full respect for all beliefs and convictions, Archbishop Tomasi said. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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