Rights and Humanity played a critical role In the lead up to the World Conference on Human Rights (WCHR) in 1993, forging consensus on the universality of human rights across world divisions. Debates about the universality of human rights, and in particular aid conditionality, was threatened to undermine the success of the WCHR.

We called an emergency meeting in Jordan for governmental and civil society representatives from throughout the world, entitled “Strengthening Commitment to the Universality of Human Rights”. At our meeting, under the Patronage of HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, we forged a multi-cultural, multi-stakeholder consensus on the universality of human rights.

We stressed that respect for human rights and dignity is shared across faiths and cultures. We also stressed the need to view human rights objectively and to pay equal attention to civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.

Our conclusions from this meeting proved to be of importance for achieving a successful outcome at the WCHR in June 1993. The UN Under-Secretary General for Human Rights, Mr Ibrahima Fall, participated in our meeting and submitted our recommendations to the final preparatory committee meeting for the WCHR, which proved helpful in gaining ultimate consensus on this issue at the WCHR.

Impact
As a result of the global confirmation of the universality and indivisibility of human rights, states can no longer argue that their citizens are not entitled to human rights protection. Rights and Humanity is proud to have played a role in this major breakthrough, ensuring recognition of all human rights for everyone, everywhere.

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