South African History Online

Speech by President Mandela at the unveiling of the Human Rights
Monument

Ottawa, 24 September 1998

Minister Lloyd Axworthy
Your Excellencies
Honourable Bill
Commanda
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great privilege, as a South African, to be invited to unveil this
memorial in honour of an exemplary Canadian.

Had I not been on my way to your Parliament, I would have wanted to devote
more time to the occasion.

John Humphrey was one of those rare men and women who make the world the
theatre of the operations. As an architect of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights he became a citizen not only of Canada but of the world.

For those who had to fight for their freedom, such as ourselves, the
Declaration vindicated the justice of our cause. There is therefore special
pleasure for us in acknowledging John Humphrey's contribution to the advancement
of humanity.

Our visit to Canada also brings an opportunity to thank the Canadian people
for their steadfast support, through the years of struggle and now as we rebuild
our country.

Having benefited from your commitment, and that of the entire international
community, to the principle that human rights are the rights of all people,
everywhere, South Africa now works wherever it can to implement the perspectives
contained in the Declaration.

Though we can celebrate many advances in the frontiers of political freedom
in the past fifty years, millions still live in conditions that prevent them
from the full enjoyment of the rights they have been formally accorded. In many
respects the gap between those who are secure in their rights and those who are
not, is growing.

The best tribute that we could pay to a person such as John Humphrey is to
dedicate ourselves to the eradication of poverty, disease, hunger, violence and
insecurity.

That is why the developing countries are working together, and seeking closer
co-operation with industrialised countries such as Canada, to create a new world
order which will help make poverty and underdevelopment something of the past.

May this monument inspire all who see it to join hands in a partnership for
world peace, prosperity and equity.