Good afternoon, everyone.
I first want to thank Dr. Peter Berkowitz
and my friend and mentor, Ambassador Mary
Ann Glendon, for their leadership of the Commission,
and all their hard work.
You’ll hear from both of them in a moment.
I’m also grateful to the members of the
Commission for taking on this important task,
for examining what unalienable rights really
are, and what they mean for us today.
And I’m exceedingly thankful to the members
of the public in attendance.
The health of a democracy depends on the care
and concern of the demos – the people.
You’re taking it seriously.
It’s in the best traditions of American
democracy that this meeting is a public one.
One thing that makes America special is that
our civic deliberations take place openly.
We are not governed by the private writ of
kings.
We always have the debate – think of the
Lincoln-Douglas debates, President Wilson’s
14 Points, the civil rights movement, and
many other issues.
It heartens me that you all are here to consider
the ideas and arguments made before you.
I pray they will improve our understanding
and profit our nation.
This meeting of the Commission extends America’s
unmatched national commitment to fundamental
human rights.
It began with the words of the Declaration
of Independence, which made clear governments
must honor “unalienable rights.”
It continued when Abraham Lincoln – inspired
by the words of the Declaration – signed
the Emancipation Proclamation.
In 1947, Eleanor Roosevelt led the creation
of the UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights
– a document that substantially drew on
our Constitution’s Bill of Rights.
We upheld fundamental rights in the civil
rights era, when the promise of liberty and
equality was realized for Americans who had
previously been treated as second-class citizens,
or worse.
And we upheld human rights internationally
in the fight against apartheid, and communism.
But in the last few decades, we’ve become
confused about “rights.”
Claims of “rights” have shaped our political
debates, but it isn’t always clear whether
we’re talking about fundamental, universal
rights; or debatable political priorities;
or merely personal preferences.
Claims of “rights” have exploded.
One research group has found that between
the United Nations and the Council of Europe,
there are a combined 64 human rights-related
agreements, encompassing 1,377 provisions.
International bodies designated to protect
human rights have drifted from their missions,
or have been outright corrupted.
Authoritarian governments often misuse these
bodies.
Just last week, China and Russia, for instance,
voted Venezuela onto the UN Human Rights Council.
What hypocrisy.
And our kids aren’t taught about the role
of “unalienable rights” in the American
Founding – if they learn about the Founding
at all.
Perhaps Professor McClay will have something
to say about that.
So it’s time to ask some key questions:
What are our fundamental freedoms?
Why do we have them?
Who or what grants them?
How do we know if a claim of human rights
is true?
What happens when rights conflict?
Should certain categories of rights be inextricably
“linked” to other rights?
How should government be organized and limited
to ensure the protection of rights?
These are the types of questions the Commission
will explore.
I expect the Commission’s distinguished
members will produce worthy answers.
I want to be clear that the Commission is
an advisory body.
Its focus is on principle, not policy formulation
‒ although we hope it will inform policy-making
in the future.
Its mission isn’t to discover new principles,
but to ground our discussion of human rights
in America’s founding principles.
I would also note its work is nonpartisan
– there are registered Republicans, Democrats,
and Independents serving.
That composition reflects a consensus across
American politics that fundamental human rights
– human dignity – must be protected.
It’s why the State Department has put out
a Human Rights Report every year since 1977.
It’s why we have an entire bureau dedicated
to fighting human trafficking.
It’s why both left and right are sounding
the alarm on China’s abuse and detainment
of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region of
China.
I am confident that the Commission will be
a vital new voice in the American chorus of
freedom.
We hope it will prompt a serious debate about
human rights that extends across party lines
and national borders.
And we trust that it will extend America’s
legacy as a nation without peer in upholding
freedom and human dignity.
Thank you.
