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Ambassador Mull Pays Tribute to Role of Civil Society at Human Rights Day Event
8 December 2005
U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull praised the work of civil society organizations during his remarks at a panel discussion hosted by the Human Rights Monitoring Institute on December 7. Commemorating Human Rights Day 2005, Ambassador Mull stressed the importance of tolerance, free speech, transparency, and civil society as the “true guardians of human rights”.
Ambassador Mull cited the critical role of civil society to ensure “that all voices are heard” in a free exchange of ideas among active, informed citizens. The panel convened at Open Society Fund Lithuania to discuss the importance of protecting human rights in democracies.
The full text of the speech follows:
December 7, 2005
Vice Chairman Steponavičius, Ms. Burneikiene, Mr. Zabulis, Mr. Mickevičius, distinguished guests and friends:
I am truly grateful for your invitation to participate in this discussion with you today. It is a privilege for me to help you to commemorate Human Rights Day.
On this day, we celebrate the shared ideals of our two nations, and we emphasize the importance of protecting human liberty throughout the world.
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed December 10 as Human Rights Day in honor of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly 57 years ago. Since that day, gradually but inexorably, the universal demand for human rights has changed the world. A growing community of free nations has joined together in promoting the principles of democracy, human rights, and tolerance of minorities.
Almost fifteen years ago, the free people of the world cheered as Lithuania rejoined this community of nations. Lithuania’s story inspires young democracies everywhere. We all admire the perseverance you have shown while overcoming the daunting obstacles on your way to reclaiming your rightful place among the peaceful and prosperous democracies of the world. You have created a compelling example for those whose human rights are denied.
The progress of liberty and human rights is a powerful trend. But we also know that freedom and human rights, if not protected, can be compromised. We know the dangers of sitting idle, and we have seen human rights diminished by fear or intolerance.
As an American, I know these dangers. Our nation has struggled with them throughout its history. We have seen the poisonous effects of racial intolerance. Despite the enormous progress and courage of the American Civil Rights Movement, the United States continues to fight this battle, and we have much more ground to cover.
We have also witnessed the curbing of civil liberties due to fear. During World War II, the U.S. government forcibly and illegally detained 120,000 people of Japanese descent. The United States government has issued an official apology and paid financial reparations for the hardship suffered. However, it took decades before the American government and society were able to recognize this episode of American intolerance for what it was - a betrayal of our democracy.
As you can see, America’s history has been marked by a steady advance of individual liberties, but our march forward has been fraught with obstacles, and has occasionally faltered. We are proud to have acknowledged our mistakes. Our history has made Americans fight for equal rights with even greater passion and dedication.
This is why today’s gathering is so important. A true democracy is about active citizens in an active civil society. We do not simply accept rights that are bestowed upon us – we actively fight to preserve and expand those rights. And we do this most effectively through the free expression of ideas, tolerance of minority views, and open access to information. These central ideas – tolerance, free speech, transparency, and an active civil society – are the true guardians of human rights.
I stand here proudly, at the home of an organization that has done admirable work to advance these ideas, to pay tribute to its efforts in support of civil society. However, it is also important to recognize that to support civil society is not to defend the views of a single individual or organization, nor to advocate for a particular political position. On the contrary, a staunch defense of civil society is to encourage as many different political views as possible. Civil society is critical to democracy and human rights precisely because it promotes a loud, conflictive, and occasionally untidy debate among competing ideas.
Civil society and tolerance are about ensuring that all voices are heard – that this battle of ideas reflects all points of view, even voices whose ideas are not popular. Civil society is also about education and access to information: an electorate of educated voters, with both information and a wide selection of ideas to choose from, are powerful defenders of human rights and national interests.
Lithuania today is free country filled with great opportunity. I ask you to remember the important role that civil society organizations have played in creating these newfound opportunities. Many NGOs have worked to build civil society, promote tolerance, and develop a culture of good governance. The United States supports these goals, and I encourage all of you to embrace these principles as you continue to make Lithuania a proud example for democracies everywhere. Thank you.
