At a ceremonial gathering in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, on 10 December 2008, the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement has been introduced and signed. In the presence of Her Royal Majesty Queen Beatrix religious representatives from all over the world signed the Statement at the International Inter-religious Conference Faith in Human Rights. The Conference is an initiative of the Municipality of The Hague and supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister of State Prof. Dr. Peter H. Kooijmans performed the opening of the Conference, followed by a spiritual moment and a music intermezzo.  The keynote speech was delivered by Ambassador Dr. Ibrahim Salama on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. After the presentation of the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement the ten religious leaders were invited on stage to deliver their addresses and sign the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement.

As His Holiness the Dalai Lama could not be present at this prestigious gathering , but had to be in Warsaw, Poland, due to previous commitments, he asked H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang to attend the Conference as his official envoy representing Buddhism. His Holiness addressed the assembly with a brief introductory speech in which he pointed out the fundamental belief of Buddhism in the interdependent nature of our world, which implies a universal responsibility that we all share. He stressed the fact that the Faith in Human Rights Statement is very much in line with the principles of Buddhism.

Subsequently His Holiness delivered the speech of the Dalai Lama, in which the Dalai Lama stated:

I am convinced that all religions believe in the innate goodness of human beings and that different religions exist to develop and strengthen this quality.  The essence of religion is non-violence and peace.  Therefore, if society is constructed on the principle of respecting the natural and innate spiritual qualities of human beings, rather than on the specific beliefs of this or that religion, it will embrace the whole of humanity. It will ensure a practical combination of spiritual and secular values.

After delivering the speech, Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche signed the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement, as did the other representatives of the world’s religions. In the Statement they declare to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and commit themselves to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms both within and outside their faith community. It is hoped that the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement will initiate a wider process and will become a catalyst for transformation and change towards justice, peace, mutual respect and interfaith co-operation. The International Inter-religious Conference marked the first time ever that major world religions have jointly emphasized the importance of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The signatories personally addressed the audience on behalf of their Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Taoist, Muslim and Indigenous faith community. Immediately after their declarations the Statement was endorsed by a high representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch and of the Bahá’i faith. In his closing address the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime J.M. Verhagen, spoke of an important signal of the positive role that religions can play within the world community.

After the official event, His Holiness, who was accompanied by Khenpo K. Tamphel and Lama Konchog Tsering, took the opportunity to talk with the various religious leaders, politicians, and Queen Beatrix at a standing lunch outside the conference hall.

More information, including a list of the first signatories, as well as the wording of the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement is accessible at the Faith in Human Rights website .