Statement of President Ersin Tatar on Human Rights Day
“Whilst commemorating Human Rights Day, my greatest wish is to have a just and fairer world where the strong does not dominate or oppress the weak, where all oppressed peoples are freed from captivity and where universal human right principles and laws are applied equally and fairly."
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN at its General Assembly on December 10, 1948 was made for the global protection of universal human rights and is observed as the anniversary of when the first milestone document, providing inalienable rights for all human beings, came into force on December 10, which is known as Human Rights Day.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus aspires to provide its citizens a contemporary civilised way of living in accordance with the protection and development of the fundamental rights and freedoms provided to individuals as enshrined in the UDHR. Our State adopts universal human rights principles regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Implementing the universality of human rights as provided for in this declaration is also the natural human right of every individual. The Turkish Cypriot people, who have experienced all kinds of inhuman atrocities in their recent history, individually and collectively, were subjected to attacks, made refugees and imprisoned in ghettos whilst their human rights were violated, know very well how important it is to understand human rights and freedoms because of their bitter experiences. Turkish Cypriot people indeed acknowledge the importance of universal human rights laws and the UDHR, which is the cornerstone of human rights principles and laws.
The Turkish Cypriot people, who were expelled from the state apparatus of the partnership ‘Republic of Cyprus’ in 1963 by force of arms and exposed to all forms of violence for many years, paid a very heavy price to attain a free, safe and dignified life. Today, the Turkish Cypriots are invoking their inherent right of self-determination, which is the most fundamental right of a people, and because of this are regrettably being punished with inhuman isolation and restrictions. Imposing embargoes in this era, in contradiction of the Human Right principles, is aimed to keep the Turkish Cypriot people in captivity, disregarding their just demands and the most humanitarian concerns stemming from their past and present historical traumas and persecution. This situation is not only alarming, but also an obstacle to solution efforts.
As the President of a People who have experienced the most devastating form of human right violations in the recent past, one of my most fundamental responsibilities is to draw attention to the unjust approaches by the international community who have turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Whilst commemorating Human Rights Day, when the aim is to protect and develop human rights globally, my greatest wish is to have a just and fairer world where the strong do not dominate or oppress the weak, where all oppressed peoples are freed from captivity and where universal human right principles and laws are applied equally and fairly.