UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

“Last week, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to establish a new Human Rights council, fulfilling the intention expressed by heads of state and government at last September’s World summit. The move gives us a historic opportunity to build a stronger and more effective United Nations framework for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide…
“Let me express my gratitude to you for all your hard work. With the support of such tireless advocates for human rights, the United Nations need not lose sight of the highest principles on which it was founded.”