Earlier this week I pledged to work closely with Amnesty International during my term in office as Mayor of North Down, addressing human rights issues locally and beyond.
As a member of Amnesty International I offered my support and welcomed the North Down Amnesty group to the Mayors Parlour, praising the work the local group undertakes as 'extensive and extremely valuable'.
Speaking at the event, I stated "Locally we are lucky to live under the European Convention of Human Rights, created to ensure past evils perpetrated across Europe never can occur again.
"It is our challenge to ensure this approach prevails in all bodies and all states signed up to the convention. The delayed implementation of European Court decisions by some should be a serious cause for concern, with the compliance rate dropping from 90 percent in the late 90s to below 50 percent now - with Russia and Ukraine some of the worst offenders.
"Working as one we can enhance rather than diminish the rights of men and women across the world. Each time we speak out against injustice momentum grows towards a fairer world that cherishes life and the right to speak out and live freely.
"I look forward to working with Amnesty International in the year ahead, standing with them and speaking out for freedom and human rights everywhere."
Full speech to Amnesty International North Down and
Ards Group, Mayoral
Reception, Tuesday 6 August 2013 below
Good evening Ladies and
Gentleman.
 |
| Amnesty International visiting Mayor's Parlour |
My name is Andrew Muir and
whilst welcoming you tonight as Mayor of North Down I do not hesitate in
joining others in saying I am Troy
Davis standing together with you as a
fellow member of Amnesty International to remember Troy and others who have
been denied the Right to Life and other fundamental Human Rights.
I joined Amnesty
International a number of years ago and am delighted to welcome Amnesty
International to the Town Hall and the Mayor’s Parlour tonight.
The work you undertake is
extensive and extremely valuable. From writing letters to campaigning on key
issues of concern such as Human Trafficking and organising events such as the
annual Christmas Greetings Cards campaign I feel both proud and grateful to
have you here tonight.
Life as a Human Right
defender isn’t easy and can often feel like a lonely place in the face of criticism but, despite this you continue, raising awareness and striving to
keep people alive, free from persecution, discrimination and intolerance.
Locally we look outwards
and live under the European Convention of Human Rights cast in the shadow of
the horrors inflicted during the Second World War to ensure the evils
perpetrated across Europe never occur again. Incorporated into Domestic Law in
1998 via the Human Rights Act I value these legal protections and as a
Councillor always review policies and decisions to ensure compliance with the
Convention.
Our challenge must however
be to ensure this approach prevails in all bodies and all states signed up to
the Convention. The patchy implementation of European Court decisions by some
signatories should be a serious cause for everyone. From 90% in the late 1990s the cumulative
compliance rate has dropped to below 50% with Russia and Ukraine some of the
worst offenders. Whether by locking up Pussy Riot activists or threatening to
arrest gay tourists it’s time Human Rights were once again made Universal from
Warsaw in the East to Wexford in the West.
As John F Kennedy once remarked “The
rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”.
Working as One we can
enhance rather than diminish the rights of men and women across the world whether
through a simple letter or a concerted campaign each time we speak out against
injustice momentum grows towards a fairer globe that cherishes life and the
right to speak out and live freely.
I look forward to working
with you over the year ahead as Mayor. Whether by personally sending letters to
leaders across the world in support of people facing persecution or supporting
your Greeting Cards campaign I will stand up and speak out for the reasons set
out by Martin Niemöller when he spoke
“First
they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a
communist;
Then
they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a
socialist;
Then
they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a
trade unionist;
Then
they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then
they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me.”