On 10th of December, the world celebrates the International Human Rights Day. The Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Skopje and the Coalition "All for Fair Trials" contributed to this celebration by presenting a Manual on National Human Rights Protection Systems, at the EU Info Centre on Thursday, 10 December. The Manual was prepared by the Dutch government under the auspices of the Czech Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2009. Its goal is to contribute to more effective human rights and development interventions by focusing on the fundamental human rights infrastructure. It aims for EU member states’ embassies to (re)define and improve existing, and to generate new, activities that strengthen the National Human Rights Protection System (NHRPS).

The Netherlands is one of the world leaders when it comes to ensuring the implementation of the human rights and liberties in practice. In his speech on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlandsemphasises: "Men, women and children, no matter who they are, no matter where they live, no matter what they do, have rights that can never be taken away from them. Governments around the world have an obligation to protect and promote these universal rights, but in many instances, they fail their own citizens. The tenth of December marks the worldwide celebration of Human Rights Day. It’s not a day we can afford to let pass unnoticed! Today, we honour those people who are brave enough to stand up for their rights and the rights of others, despite the resistance they encounter. In many countries, human rights defenders work in extremely difficult circumstances, at great personal risk, and they deserve our full support."

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December. The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights. The formal establishment of Human Rights Day occurred at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on 4 December 1950, when the General Assembly declared resolution 423(V), inviting all member states and any other interested organizations to celebrate the day as they saw fit.

DOWNLOADS:

•  Electronic version of the Manual on National Human Rights Protection Systems.
•  Speech by Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen
• Presentation of the Manual  given by Charge d'Affaires Gert Kampman

USEFUL LINKS:

• For more information on International Human Rights Day visit:  http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2009/index.shtml 
• Human Rights website EU:  http://consilium.europa.eu/human-rights
• EU Guidelines for Human Rights Defenders:  http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/QC8308123ENC.pdf
• For more information on the Manual, please contact the Embassy or visit  www.nlembassy.org.mk.