The history of the human race has generated several papers articulating basic moral imperatives, or fundamental principles, of human coexistence that (maybe in association with concurring historical events ) substantially influenced the fate of humanity on this planet. Among these historic documents, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted fifty years ago today, holds a very special, indeed, unique position. It is the first code of ethical conduct that was not a product of one culture, or one sphere of civilization only, but a universal creation, shaped and subscribed to by representatives of all humankind. Since its very inception, the Declaration has thus represented a planetary, or global commitment, a global intention, a global guideline. For this reason alone, this exceptional document, conceived as a result of a profound human self-reflection in the wake of the horrors of World War ii, and retaining its relevance ever since, deserves to be remembered today.

Havel Václav

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