Statement By Comrade Simbarashe S. Mumbengegwi, M.P, Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of The Republic Of Zimbabwe at The Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Conference on Human Rights And Cultural Diversity:3 – 4 September 2007, Tehran, Iran.
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Fellow Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Comrades and Friends.
I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude and sincere appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me and my delegation by the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I would also like to congratulate the Islamic Republic of Iran for the excellent facilities they have put in place for this important Ministerial Conference. We also commend the chair of the Movement, Cuba, for implementing the decision of the 14 th NAM Summit in September 2006 that a Conference of NAM Foreign Ministers on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity be convened. Given the frequency with which human rights issues now feature in national, regional and international discourse, it is appropriate that the Movement discuss the subject comprehensively and thoroughly. Our objective should be to address the international human rights agenda in a fair and balanced manner, in order to contribute to global efforts to maintain international peace, security and stability.
Mr. Chairman,
Following the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the call for human rights promotion and protection has grown stronger. In this respect, it is the duty of all governments to play their part in respecting human rights as enumerated in the Declaration. In the sphere of human rights, no single country can claim superiority over others. No country can claim the monopoly of deciding as to what constitutes human rights and universal culture. All nations stand equal in meeting the demands for the protection of human rights and all have an equal duty to perfect the systems that promote and uphold human rights. Any disposition towards imposing on others systems of government and concepts of human rights and culture needs to be challenged and rejected. We need to challenge and reject also those that are bent on imposing themselves as both the policemen, prosecutors and judges of the behaviours of other nations on human rights issues. The only positive approach to addressing the question of human rights is one that seeks a global, collective, consultative and dialogue approach, on the basis of sovereign equality among states. This is the only approach that holds hope for the realization of the letter and spirit of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
While we, the developing countries, have no difficulty in upholding democracy and respect for human rights, the big Western countries often want us to practice these universal values at their prescription. Worse still, big Western countries routinely politicize human rights and level baseless allegations against developing countries. A number of developing countries, including my own country Zimbabwe have been placed under illegal unilateral sanctions on fabricated baseless allegations of violation of human rights.
Mr. Chairman,
The Movement should refuse to be lectured to by the West on matters of human rights. What qualifies the West, with their gross human rights violations around the world, dating back to the dark days of colonialism and the brutality of slavery, to the inhuman abuses at Abu Graib prison in Iraq and the concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, to claim to be champions of human rights and democracy? We in NAM, who constitute the overwhelming majority of the international community, must capture the moral high ground as champions of human rights and good governance. We fought colonialism and all its abuses and emerged victorious. Many of us in NAM had to wage bitter and protracted armed struggles to bring about democracy, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights to our countries. It is therefore an ugly insult for the former colonial masters, who having denied us these same rights for centuries, now posture as champions and protectors of the rights of our peoples. In the case of Zimbabwe, the liberation struggle was greatly inspired by the land question. British colonial settlers had, at gun point, seized over 75% of the land and distributed it to less than 1% of the population over a period of almost a century. This remained the case some twenty years into independence in 2000 when the government of Zimbabwe took the bold and heroic decision to embark on the Fast Track Land Reform Programme where land was acquired and distributed to over 300,000 landless families in Zimbabwe in accordance with the laws of independent Zimbabwe.
This revolutionary democratization of land ownership in Zimbabwe was met with anger and vindictiveness by the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe's former colonial master. Using the issues of democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights as a smokescreen, the United Kingdom hypocritically mobilized all her allies in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand to impose illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe shall be forever grateful for the support and solidarity from NAM.
Mr. Chairman,
The NAM should totally reject the West's continued politicization, selective application and exercise of double standards on human rights issues. It is common knowledge that when Western interests are at stake, allegations of human rights violations are often fabricated as a smokescreen to justify political interference in the internal affairs of developing countries. Examples abound in this very hall where non-existent human rights violations have been broadcast through the western media that dominate our airwaves as justification for imposing punitive measures and other interferences in the internal affairs of NAM member states.
Mr. Chairman,
Let us remember that as individual states we are weak, but together we are strong. It is our unity that will defend and protect us. Let us remain united in solidarity.
Mr. Chairman
It should be noted that cultural rights are an integral part of human rights, which are universal, indivisible and interdependent. The respect for the diversity of cultures, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation, in a climate of mutual trust and understanding are among the best guarantees of international peace and security. The Movement should strive to make greater investments in information technology to ensure that its cultural diversity is not excluded from the international cultural space by developed countries. The Western dominance in ICT has enabled it to willy-nilly impose its cultures on developing countries and this should be countered through massive investment in ICT by members of NAM.
Mr. Chairman,
The Movement should strive to preserve its cultural diversity in the face of trade liberalization and economic globalization. The Movement should examine the application of free trade regimes in cultural fields. Our goal should be to ensure that our effort to promote our cultural diversity is not threatened. It is high time the Movement assisted its members in building local and national cultural industries such as publishing houses, radio and television stations, film industries, theatres and information technology. Let us improve member states' capacity in producing and promoting local content and share it through well-established and inter-connected information and technology facilities.
Mr. Chairman,
The Movement should strive to ensure that its institutions of higher learning do not produce cultural misfits who look down upon their own cultures. Instead, these institutions must produce graduates who are technically competent, who have affinity to and are well versed in their cultures. To achieve this, efforts must be made to ensure that their curriculum reflect our cultures, values and history.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion, I want to state that in order to adequately address the international human rights agenda in a fair and balanced manner, it must be observed that the promotion of human rights is by no means the exclusive right of some individual countries but the shared aspiration of human kind. All nations, large or small, rich or poor, should have the right to take part on an equal footing in the activities for the promotion of human rights. International bodies dealing with human rights must ensure wider participation through equitable geographical distribution of representation. The Movement must resist and reject Western attempts to under-represent developing countries on human rights issues in international bodies.
Mr. Chairman,
We owe it to posterity to implement in full the decisions, resolutions and Program of Action of this very important and historic NAM Conference on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity.
Mr. Chairman,
I thank you. |
