Seventy years ago, on December 10, the member states of the United Nations united to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After the greatest tragedy that humanity has experienced in its history, this step united the world. Many years have passed since then.
The Universal Declaration is the cornerstone of international human rights law. It formed the basis of strong and stable human rights structures in many countries. There are now more people whose rights are well protected than at any time in human history. The celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration is a fitting occasion to take a closer look at how human rights have affected our societies in general.
That is why this year the European Union, together with its partners from different parts of the world, introduced the initiative "Good Human Rights Stories". It shows that our societies can become stronger and more resilient through the promotion and protection of human rights.
Reflecting on these stories can be a source of hope and optimism. However, there is no reason to take human rights for granted. We know about the struggle that is still going on all over the world: human rights are being violated, democracy is being undermined, and the space for civil society activities is being reduced.
Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration, representatives of civil society and human rights defenders have worked to promote and protect human rights through peaceful dialogue and the construction of pluralistic democracies.
Oppression of freedom of speech, pressure on civil society is growing all over the world. Violent attacks are carried out against them, forced disappearances and punitive registration regimes are used. The EU remains a staunch supporter of civil society. We will continue to make efforts to act and speak out against harassment and intimidation of civil society, particularly women and youth organizations. One of our main priorities and the essence of EU foreign policy in the field of human rights is to provide support to human rights defenders. The European Union is the world's largest donor to local civil society organizations. Every year, it provides 2 billion euros, which is two-thirds of global support.
On this day, the EU also reaffirms its firm commitment to the multilateral human rights protection system as a platform for the international community. It is the best tool for eliminating human rights violations and bringing the perpetrators to justice both at the international and regional levels. Within the framework of the Union, we are implementing the international system of human rights. And we expect our partners around the world to uphold these standards. It is also about our constant desire to improve the human rights situation at home and abroad.
In this way, we continue to fulfill the commitments we made seventy years ago. They are based on the fundamental fact that all men are born free and equal, and the conviction that we must all act in a spirit of respect and solidarity.