Brussels, 10/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is ideally placed to assume the leading role on human rights, was the view of those taking part in the conference “60 years of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights: the defenders take the floor” held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 7-8 October. “The EU must set an example by protecting human rights within its borders,” said European Justice, Security and Freedom Commissioner Jacques Barrot, the first speaker at the conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration, on 10 December 1948, and the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, on 9 December 1998. The Commissioner reviewed the EU's policies on human rights in third countries, pointing to special budget funding of €16m earmarked for human rights defenders (HDRs) for 2007-2010. Former French Ambassador Stéphane Hessel, who was involved in the drafting of the 1948 Declaration, said that it was time “to breathe new life into the principles of the Declaration,” indicating that “no progress has been made on economic, social and cultural rights”. Chairwoman of the EP Human Rights Subcommittee Hélène Flautre (Greens, France) said that, while on paper the EU had a lot of good instruments, “they need to be properly implemented”. “We need to ensure there are no double standards due to the geo-strategic importance of our partners,” she added. On an optimistic note, Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch argued that the human rights movement was “gaining energy”. “By shining a spotlight on governments, we shame them” and “force them to change their practices,” he said. He went on to say that HRDs were “our key partners”, as they were “at the frontline, putting their life at risk”. “Journalists are in the vanguard of the fight for freedom of expression,” said Andrei Lipski of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Lebanese journalist Ali al-Atassi painted the picture of the critical situation in which journalists in Syria and Lebanon find themselves, and called for “more recognition, more solidarity of third world dissidents as this encourages and helps them”. He said to the EP Sakharov Prize was something very useful in this respect. In closing his speech, Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP-ED, Germany) described the 1948 Declaration as “a major victory of our civilisation” but added that “unfortunately the 60th anniversary is a time to sound the alarm”. Warning against security slippage within the context of combating terrorism, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay questioned the EU High Representative for External Policy Javier Solana on the possible appointment of a European Human Rights Commissioner. (B.C./transl.rt)