Human Rights Day Celebration

Lau Susuga ile Ta’ita’I ole Sauniga, Lau Susuga Dr. Latū Latai.
Lau Afioga ile Fofoga Fetalai ole Palemene o Samoa, Lau Afioga Papalii Li’o Taeu Masipa’u.
Lau Afioga ile Komesina o Sulufaiga, lau Afioga Maualaivao Pepe Seiuli, faapea le Ofisa ole Komisi o Sulufaiga.
Talofa lava! Malo le soifua manuia!
Ole Aso Fa’apitoa lenei mo le fa’atā uaina, o Aiā Tatau faale tagata soifua.

It is an honour to be with you on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator, as we gather to celebrate the Human Rights Day.
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the values and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 76 years ago. This declaration remains a powerful testament to our shared humanity. It reminds us that human rights are not privileges, but fundamental guarantees for every person and every community, everywhere.

This year's theme "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now" is a call for action. It emphasizes that the human rights we uphold today are the foundation upon which we build our future. It challenges us to act with urgency, recognizing that the time to secure our future is now.

In Samoa, and across the Pacific, we face unique challenges that threaten our rights and our future, demanding collective and immediate action.
 

This includes climate change, which is a pressing issue that disproportionately affects our region. It is not just an environmental challenge, but a human rights one. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the loss of biodiversity threaten our right to a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment.
We must ensure that people have access to information about climate change and environmental harms and how they impact their lives so that they can participate in decision-making processes and take action at all levels.
Indeed, education, awareness and critical thinking are essential for an informed, resilient and inclusive society. The United Nations looks forward to supporting the Government of Samoa to realize its “human rights pledge” to introduce climate change education in schools.
Strong democratic institutions that uphold the rule of law are crucial to guarantee human rights, including the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

This includes an independent judiciary to ensure that laws are applied fairly to all and that the rights of vulnerable and marginalized are protected; a legislature which ensures that laws are complaint with the government’s international human rights obligations and sufficient resources are allocated for the promotion and protection of human rights; and an executive which ensures that government agencies and officials comply with human rights standards.
These issues were discussed in depth in October at the Commonwealth Human Rights Forum organized by the Samoa Office of the Ombudsman.

In her opening remarks, the Prime Minister of Samoa, Honorable Fiame Naomi Mafa’afa called human rights an essence of democracy, stressed the importance of establishing and strengthening independent accountability mechanisms such as the National Human Rights Institutions, and highlighted the need to further entrench human rights within the cultural tapestry of the Pacific and the Commonwealth, drawing on the shared values of love, respect, dignity and equality.
This year’s Human Rights Day commemoration recognizes human rights champions in Samoa whose work has contributed to climate justice and strengthening the rule of law and democracy. These awards are a testament to their dedication and commitment to human rights, and their efforts remind us of the positive impact that individuals can make to create a more just and equitable society.

Indeed, to build truly resilient societies, we must ensure that the rights of persons who are most at risk of being marginalized or left behind, including women, children, persons with disability, persons with diverse gender identities, are protected. Their voices must be heard, and we must create conditions to provide equal opportunities for everyone.
I would like to reiterate the commitment by the United Nations to work with the Office of the Ombudsman, the Government of Samoa, civil society and all stakeholders to ensure that human rights remain at the heart of our efforts towards sustainable development.

May we all be proactive and firm to uphold a peaceful, just and equal society, and to champion human rights for all, every day.

Fa'afetai tele lava. Soifua ma ia manuia.