Racism is an attack on the very notion of the universality of human rights. It systematically denies certain people the enjoyment of their full human rights because of their colour, race, ethnicity, descent or national origin.

There is no excuse for human rights abuse, whether in the name of security or in the name of liberation.

As the world continues to turn away from the use of the death penalty, it is a glaring anomaly that China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the USA stand out for their extreme use of this form of punishment as the 'top' executioners in the world.

Guantanamo has become the gulag of our time.

The world does not need a war against 'terrorism', it needs a culture of peace based on human rights for all.

Human security comes only with human rights and the rule of law. Human rights are the basis for creating strong and accountable states without which there can be no political stability or social progress.

There can be no peace without justice and respect for human rights.