Debate resumed from 2 December, on motion by Mr Rudd:

That the House:

(1)

notes that 10 December 2008 is the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

(2)

recalls that the adoption of the Declaration was a response to the suffering of those who had experienced human rights violations, especially the ‘barbarous acts’ perpetrated during World War II;

(3)

recognises that whilst significant progress has been made in promoting and protecting human rights since the Declaration was adopted, human rights violations have continued to occur;

(4)

acknowledges the valuable contribution of Australians who played a role in the development and adoption of this important instrument of international law and who, since then, have contributed to its implementation; and

(5)

affirms the principles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and emphasises its commitment to those principles.

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