O 270836Z NOV 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS STATE 125694 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: APER KPAO PHUM OIIP SCUL
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY - PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
 
REF: (A) bSTATE 118920, (B) STATE 123982 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  December 10 marks the 60th Anniversary of 
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  This 
day, celebrated as Human Rights Day worldwide, is the date 
that the UDHR was adopted by the United Nations General 
Assembly in 1948.  The Department is celebrating the 
occasion with a ceremony hosted by Secretary Rice on 
December 8th   - kicking off Human Rights Week - at which 
she will honor this year's recipients of three Department 
and Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) 
awards.  The Department encourages all posts, in keeping 
with the spirit of Human Rights Week, to pursue all 
appropriate outreach activities to advance human rights 
and democracy objectives.  See ACTION, Para 12.  End 
Summary. 
 
 
DC Efforts: 
 
¶2. The Department is marking the occasion with a ceremony 
on December 8th hosted by Secretary Rice where she will 
present three Departmental and DRL awards (Reftel). 
¶A.      Diplomacy for Freedom Award 
¶B.      Freedom Defender Award 
¶C.      Human Rights and Democracy Achievement Award 
 
¶3. A cable with details about each award and its recipient 
will be sent septel following the Secretary's presentation 
of the awards. 
 
¶4.  During Human Rights Week, INFOCENTRAL and the 
Department's Dipnote Blog will feature items on the UDHR 
as well as on countries and issues relevant to the work of 
the award winners. 
 
¶5.  IIP has prepared a number of resources to support 
Posts in commemorating Human Rights Day.  America.gov's 
"In Focus" topic for November is Human Rights.  Features 
will include photo galleries on the UDHR and quizzes. 
IIP's November eJournal USA, available on America.gov and 
INFOCENTRAL, will discuss the history and modern day 
application of the UDHR.  For further details, see reftel. 
 
¶6.  IIP will also offer global webchat programs.  On 
December 10, there will be a Human Rights Day webchat for 
global audiences, with time and speaker TBD.  On December 
11, in the IIP weekly Global Forum webchat program slot, 
audiences can join an open discussion on human rights 
moderated by an IIP expert starting at 08:00 EST, and at 
09:00 EST, audiences can enter into dialog with an outside 
expert, TBD.  Post can encourage their audiences to 
participate by going to the program URL. No registration 
is needed. Guests simply choose "Enter as a Guest," type 
in their preferred screen names, and join the discussion. 
 
¶7.  Information Resource Centers are also available to 
support Posts' efforts, for example, by sending out a 
webliography, bibliography or newsletter product with 
materials on human rights; distributing to contacts the 
Department's materials, including the Human Rights report; 
and, creating a special website page with links to the 
Department and other significant information on human 
rights; supporting PAS programs with DVCs, movie 
screenings, or speakers. 
 
¶8.  A collection of the resources listed above as well as 
guidance and other internal-use and public resources will 
be available on INFOCENTRAL's International Events 
Calendar (click on December 10).  To find it, go to 
https://infocentral.state.gov and look for the calendar 
icon on the right side of the home page. 
 
Post Action: 
 
¶9. Human Rights Day provides an opportunity to highlight 
the leading role of the United States in promoting and 
protecting human rights. 
 
¶10.   In countries where human rights and democratic 
principles are challenged, posts are encouraged to reach 
out to human rights activists and advocates and 
demonstrate solidarity with them; and may, at their 
discretion, also coordinate activities with diplomatic 
representations of other countries signatory to the UDHR, 
appropriate UN offices, and NGOs.  In countries where 
citizens enjoy liberty, posts are encouraged to work in 
cooperation with a combination of any or all of the 
following:  host governments, diplomatic representations 
of other countries signatory to the UDHR, appropriate UN 
offices, and NGOs to spotlight human rights concerns 
around the world. 
 
¶11.  Posts also are encouraged to schedule media and other 
public outreach events as appropriate to highlight Human 
Rights Week themes. 
 
¶12.  ACTION REQUESTED: The National Security Council has 
asked for brief descriptions from Posts of your planned 
outreach activities to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of 
the UDHR.  Please email Erin Hart in IIP with the subject 
line:  "Post Outreach Activities - (XPost NameX) by 
December 4.  Negative responses need not be reported. 
 
¶13.  Suggested Public Diplomacy efforts include: 
        ¶A. Ambassador press/television/radio interviews to 
highlight the new initiatives; 
        ¶B. Distribution of Secretary's remarks to key 
governmental and non-governmental contacts; 
        ¶C. NGO roundtable with key human rights and 
democracy activists; 
        ¶D. Updated website links to key HR Day documents, 
including the UDHR, and distribution of UDHR and other key 
materials; 
        ¶E. Commemorative receptions in collaboration with 
other UDHR signatories and relevant UN offices; and 
        ¶F. Ambassador Level Op-ed using Key Messages below. 
 
¶14.  (U) Key Messages: 
 
Universality of Human Rights 
 
The human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights are endowed at birth 
to all human beings. During Human Rights Week [give 
dates], the people of the United States will join in 
celebrating the Universal Declaration with men and women 
of every culture and creed, every race and religion, in 
countries large and small, developed and developing. 
 
Over the sixty years since the Declaration's adoption on 
December 10, 1948, there have been remarkable gains on 
every continent for the rights that it enumerates.  Yet, 
six decades on, hundreds of millions of people still are 
denied fundamental freedoms by their governments.  Today, 
across the globe, men and women are working to secure the 
basic rights to live in dignity, to follow their 
consciences and speak their minds without fear, to choose 
those who would govern them and hold their leaders 
accountable, and to obtain equal justice under the law. In 
many countries, brave individuals who peacefully press for 
the rights of their fellow countrymen and women are 
targets of persecution and imprisonment by state 
authorities. 
 
The Universal Declaration is much more than a catalogue of 
rights - it is a call to action. The Universal Declaration 
calls upon "every individual and every organ of society ... 
to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by 
progressive measures, national and international, to 
secure their universal and effective recognition and 
observance..." 
 
If the great promise of the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights is to be fulfilled, the international community - 
and especially the world's democracies -- cannot accept 
that any people in the world are condemned to live without 
dignity or under tyranny. 
 
As long as men and women around the globe remain deprived 
of their basic rights, we, who enjoy the blessings of 
liberty, must continue to give our sustained support to 
the universal cause of freedom, and to all who 
courageously champion it. 
 
Defend the Defenders of Human Rights and Democratic 
Principles 
 
As President Bush has said, "Freedom can be resisted, and 
freedom can be delayed, but freedom cannot be denied." 
For a while, tyrants may rule, but in the long run, those 
who serve and sacrifice for dignity and democracy will 
prevail, as the Havels and the Mandelas did before them. 
 
Too often, today's defenders of freedom are denounced and 
persecuted by their own governments.  Yet, in the 
hindsight of history, these heroes and heroines will be 
recognized for who they are - impatient patriots who not 
only inspire their fellow citizens, but whose example 
gives hope to people everywhere who press for the freedoms 
set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 
 
The growing worldwide demand for human rights and 
democracy is not the result of the impersonal workings of 
some dialectic, or of the orchestrations of foreign 
governments.  Rather, this call derives from the powerful 
human desire to live in dignity and liberty, and the 
personal bravery and tenacity of men and women in every 
age and in every society who serve and sacrifice for the 
cause of freedom. 
 
Democracy is the Form of Government Capable of Securing 
and Protecting Human Rights 
 
We believe that democracy is the only form of government 
capable of securing and protecting human rights and 
fundamental freedoms over the long term.  Countries in 
which power is concentrated in the hands of unaccountable 
rulers are the world's most systematic human rights 
violators. 
 
That said, no form of government is without flaws. 
Democracy is a system of government of, by and for the 
people, based on the principle that human beings have the 
inherent right to shape their own future.  But we humans 
are flawed creatures and therefore there must be built-in 
correctives and counterweights to democratic government, 
such as a robust civil society, a vibrant free media, a 
legislature and judiciary independent of the executive 
power, and a well established rule of law. 
 
US Record 
 
The United States, like all democracies, is not perfect. 
Our citizens claim a proud history of striving in every 
generation since our nation's founding to bring our 
democratic practices closer to our cherished principles, 
even as we seek to confront the injustices and challenges 
of each new age. 
 
We take all of our human rights commitments seriously, 
and, in our good faith efforts to meet those commitments, 
we value the vital role played by civil society and 
independent media.  We do not consider views about our 
performance voiced by others in the international 
community to be interference in our internal affairs, nor 
should other governments regard expressions about their 
performance as such. 
 
The U.S. Government will continue to hear and reply 
forthrightly to concerns about our own practices, 
including the actions we have taken to defend our nation 
from the global threat of terrorism.  Our laws, policies 
and practices have evolved considerably in recent years. 
 
We continue to strive to protect innocent civilians from 
attack while honoring our longstanding commitment to 
respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.  As part of 
this effort, the United States submits reports to 
international bodies in accordance with its obligations 
under various human rights treaties to which it is a 
party. 
 
Building vibrant democracies worldwide is the work of 
generations, but it is urgent work that cannot be delayed. 
 
Our own democracy still is evolving. The United States' 
journey toward liberty and justice for all has been long 
and difficult, but we are proud that we continue to make 
important progress, Our independent branches of 
government, our free media, our openness to the world, 
and, most importantly, the civic courage of impatient 
American patriots, help us keep faith with our founding 
ideals and our international human rights obligations.  In 
January, our democracy will mark an historic event - the 
inauguration of the first African American as President of 
the United States. Yet, we fully recognize that our 
national journey toward a more perfect union is far from 
complete. 
 
Democracy's path is neither smooth nor straight, but it is 
sure.  Along the way, there are bound to be stumbles and 
setbacks.  Some states still have weak institutions of 
democratic government and continue to struggle; others 
have yet to fully commit to the democratic process.  Steps 
forward can be marred with irregularities.  There can be 
serious regressions.  Democratically-elected governments 
do not always govern democratically once in power. 
 
The way forward is clear:  entrust citizens with greater 
freedom so that they can use it to correct the 
deficiencies that stand in the way of a hopeful future. 
 
The Essential Contributions of Human Rights Defenders, 
NGOs and Independent Media 
 
In today's world, the problems confronting states are too 
complex even for the most powerful to tackle alone.  The 
contributions of civil society and the free flow of ideas 
and information are crucial in addressing a host of 
domestic and international challenges.  Restricting the 
political space of NGOs and public debate only limits a 
society's own growth. 
 
In every region of the globe, there are governments that 
respond to the growing demands for personal and political 
freedom not by accepting their obligations to their 
people, but by oppressing those who advocate for human 
rights and expose abuses, such as nongovernmental 
organizations and independent media, including the 
Internet. 
 
For civil society and the independent media, the freedoms 
of expression, association, and peaceful assembly are 
oxygen.  Without these fundamental freedoms, democracy is 
deprived of its life's breath.  Regrettably, some 
governments misuse their power against NGOs, journalists, 
and other civil society activists. 
 
When democracies support the work of human rights 
advocates and civil society organizations, we help men and 
women in countries across the globe shape their own 
destinies in freedom.  And by so doing, we help to build a 
safer, better world for all. 
 
We must defend the defenders, for they are the agents of 
peaceful, democratic change. 
 
Abiding U.S. Support for Human Rights and Democracy 
Worldwide 
 
There is an increasing worldwide demand for greater 
personal and political freedom and for the adoption of 
democratic principles of government.  The United States 
supports the efforts of men and women across the globe to 
secure and exercise their rights. Our support reflects the 
core values of the American people.  As President Bush has 
said:  "Freedom is the non-negotiable right of every man, 
woman, and child, and the path to lasting peace in our 
world is liberty." 
 
Here in the United States we are in the midst of our own 
democratic transition to a new Administration.  America's 
work for freedom's cause across the globe transcends our 
domestic politics, because the advancement of human rights 
and democratic principles reflects the core values of our 
citizens.  When the Obama Administration takes office in 
January, this important work for human freedom will 
continue, strengthened by the active, bipartisan support 
of the Congress, in the finest tradition of the people of 
the United States. 
 
Resources: 
 
¶15.  Following are a list of products posts can draw from 
in their public outreach and public diplomacy efforts. 
 
¶16.  The following products will be accessible through 
DRL's intranet site and Infocentral. 
        ¶A. Secretarial statement at HR Day event 
        ¶B. Presidential Proclamation 
        ¶C. IO Fact Sheet: 
           http://www.state.gov/r/pa/scp/2008/109916.htm 
        ¶D. Question/Answers 
 
¶17.  In addition, the full text of UDHR can be found: 
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.pdf.  It is also 
available in 337 other languages here: 
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/navigate/alpha.htm.  The UN has 
created a special UDHR 60th Anniversary website 
http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/i ndex.shtml 
that contains useful historical information as well as 
information about the UN 60th Anniversary campaign efforts 
that may give posts ideas for outreach activities. 
 
¶18.  Please contact Adrienne Bory (BoryAC@state.gov or 
647-1442) or Karen Chen (ChenKY@state.gov or 647-4648) in 
the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor 
if you have further questions.  The IIP POC is Erin Hart 
(HartEM@State.gov or 453-8498). 
 
¶19.  Minimize considered. 
 
 
RICE