President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Message on December 10, Human Rights Day
On the 77th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I congratulate our nation and every member of the human family on Human Rights Day, December 10.
This important document, representing the common values and achievements of humanity, still maintains its status as a global commitment that guarantees the rights inherent to every individual. However, the rules and principles contained in the Declaration are being violated in many parts of the world and concepts such as peace and justice are constantly losing ground.
Unfortunately, the atrocities in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories continue, despite all the efforts of the international community. This genocide, due to which more than 70,000 Gazans have lost their lives, is a clear indication that the values mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been severely undermined. It is the shared responsibility of all humanity to rebuild Gaza as soon as possible, as it has been reduced to a massive pile of rubble. The only path to a just and lasting peace in Gaza is to strengthen the ceasefire established with the contribution of our country and to implement the two-state solution model urgently. However, Israel continues to demonstrate its disregard for law and order, violating the ceasefire with attacks that have killed at least 370 Palestinians since October 11. It is critically important for the international community to increase pressure on Israel to prevent Gaza from being drawn back into conflict. Similarly, our peace and dialogue-oriented initiatives continue with the aim of stopping the bloodshed in Sudan and restoring an environment of trust and stability in the country.
Combating cultural racism, hostility against Islam and xenophobia is vital for upholding the principles outlined in the Declaration. Ignoring hate crimes and hate speech, failing to implement necessary measures and sanctions against them, and even encouraging such acts under the pretext of freedom of opinion is absolutely unacceptable.
As Türkiye, with the strong heritage guided by our history, we will continue to defend human rights and human dignity throughout the world, especially in our heartland and cultural geography, without distinction of language, race or origin, and to contribute at the highest level to global peace and security.
At the same time, we will resolutely take steps to permanently rid our nation of the scourge of terrorism which has claimed the lives of thousands of our people for nearly half a century and disrupted our march toward prosperity and stability. First, we will achieve the goal of Terror- free Türkiye, and then, we will definitely achieve the ideal of Terror-free Region, centered on development, solidarity, cooperation and peace. We are determined, patient and sincere in this.
With these thoughts, I once again congratulate our nation, our brothers and sisters, and all of humanity on Human Rights Day, December 10, and I sincerely hope that this important day will bring peace, tranquility, stability and justice to the entire world, especially to Gaza, Palestine and Sudan.
