Antonio TAJANI, EP President opens the plenary session (10-13/12/2018) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, speaking about the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and on the journalists who are at the forefront fighting for our freedoms.

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (T)

Introductory remarks by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and on the six people killed in a a panicked stampede at an Italian nightclub

Arrival of the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, <a></a>Honourable colleagues, today we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on the 10th of December 1948 in Paris. The Declaration was a turning point in human history introducing principles and rights, which are today reference points that no one could renounce. The Declaration inspired the founders of the European project who experienced the atrocities that came along the lack of human rights. Europe was found on freedom and human dignity, guarantees of democracy and the rule of law. These values are essential to the European identity and have given us 70 years of peace and mutual respect. The European Parliament has always been in the forefront defending these values.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, The Sakharov prize was introduced thirty years ago, by which Parliament pays homage to those who fight, often paying a very high price, for human rights. Five Sakharov prize-winners have also received the Nobel peace prize Today in Oslo, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Muradhad had received this prestigous acknowledgment. And we wish them warmest congratulations.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I would also like to express the regret of the passing of Lyudmila Alekseeva, one of the pioneers of the political voices in the former Soviet Union. In 2009, this House awarded the Sakharov prize to her as a member of the "Memorial" association. I would like to remind you that on Wednesday we will be awarding the 2019th Sakharov Prize to Oleg Sentsov, the Ukrainian filmmaker, as a symbol of the fight for the rights of the political prisoners in the world. I also wish today to recall the first guardians of the human rights, journalists. Everywhere in the world, they risk their lives for our freedom. In my thoughts are Daphne Caruana Galizia, J&aacute;n Kuciak and Jamal Khashoggi killed in their search for truth. And all those journalists imprisoned unfairly around the world.

Cutaways during the applause given after the opening remarks (4 shots)