SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY DEBATE ANNIVERSARY OF HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY DEBATE ANNIVERSARY OF HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION.

Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Central Scotland, will tonight lead a debate in the Scottish Parliament to mark the 60^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights being adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

A parliamentary motion from Mr Hepburn has won Cross Party support and is being debated as people around the world mark "Human Rights Day".

The debate will be followed by a reception hosted by the Presiding Officer and attended by representatives of Scotland’s leading human rights organisations.

Speaking ahead of the debate Jamie Hepburn said:

"I'm very pleased to have secured a chance for the Parliament to debate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on its 60th anniversary.

"The UDHR is often called the world's best-kept secret. I hope that the Parliament's debate, and the range of activities to mark Human Rights Day will help make the 'secret' that little bit better known in Scotland.

"Only the Bible has been translated into more languages than the Declaration of Human Rights and I am delighted to learn that as of today it is now available in Scots, alongside Gaelic as a demonstration of Scotland's commitment to human rights.

"None of us can fail to be aware of the detention without trial that Guantanamo Bay has come to represent. We know about China’s continued suppression of Tibetan national identity. We know about the appalling situation in both Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and across much of the world.

"The declaration stands against these abuses. We can bemoan the fact that they happen or we can work – using the declaration as the basis of that work – to end these abuses. It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

"We must always be vigilant to threats to human rights in the world today - whether in Guantanamo Bay or Dungavel Detention Centre."

The text of Jamie Hepburn’s motion is as follows:
S3M-02630# Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party): 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights— That the Parliament notes that 10 December 2008 will be the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the General Assembly of the United Nations; believes that the UDHR is one of the outstanding statements of the dignity, integrity and rights belonging to every human being, and further believes that the principles of the UDHR should continue to serve as inspiration for the future development of Scotland.

Supported by: Dr Alasdair Allan, Bashir Ahmad, Bob Doris, Aileen Campbell, John Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Trish Godman, Robert Brown, Hugh O'Donnell, Dr Bill Wilson, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Alex Neil, Robin Harper, Roseanna Cunningham, Sandra White, Mike Pringle, Joe FitzPatrick, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, Hugh Henry, Dr Christopher Harvie, Keith Brown, Jim Hume, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ken Macintosh, Liam McArthur, Sarah Boyack, Nicol Stephen, Dr Richard Simpson, Alison McInnes, Cathy Jamieson, Malcolm Chisholm, Patrick Harvie, Cathy Peattie Lodged on Tuesday, September 30, 2008.