Fifty-eight years ago, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After the terror that the world experienced due to World War II, the allies wanted to protect humanity from another massacre.

Human Rights Day reminds us of all that has been achieved, but it should remind us even more of the ongoing relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and what still needs to be done to advance human rights.

In the year 2000 heads of State and Government adopted a set of values that are considered essential to international relations in the 21st century. These set of values are known as the Millennium Development Goals.

These values regard simple basic needs for human beings to live in a dignified manner. These goals cover poverty and hunger, education, equality, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability and global development.

Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the European Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.

From its very beginning, European integration has been firmly rooted in a shared commitment to freedom based on human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law. These common values have proved necessary for securing peace and developing prosperity in the European Union. They will also serve as a cornerstone for enlarging the Union.

The European Charter of Fundamental Rights is based on main themes – dignity, freedoms, solidarity, citizen’s rights and justice. These values protect each citizen and are tools in front of the law to protect one’s dignity and guarantee justice when required.

Another tool for the protection and safeguarding of human rights is provided by the Council of Europe in the form of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Court, which is based in Strasburg was instituted on 1 November, 1998, replacing the then existing enforcing mechanisms, which included the European Commission of Human Rights and the previous, limited Court of Human Rights, which was created in 1959.

In 1987, thanks to the Nationalist Party’s electoral victory, Malta adopted the European Convention on Human Rights as part of its law. Since then, Maltese citizens have the right of access to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Human Rights for the European Union are not just laws and declarations written down on a piece of paper. Its various programmes, both academic and civil, that are funded for the promotion of these rights, prove this.

The European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation is just one such initiative. Launched in October 1997, the aim of this one-year programme is to educate professionals in the field of human rights and democratisation according to an action and policy-oriented approach.

As a multi-disciplinary academic programme, the Master’s Degree reflects the indivisible links between human rights, democracy, peace, and development.

The EU also provides support to regional Masters Programmes in human rights and democratisation. The University of Malta coordinates the Mediterranean region programme.

The EU plays an active role in the promotion of human rights, which must be continued and made more effective. Alongside the human rights and democratisation issues, special attention is increasingly paid to the rights of the child and women’s rights.

The Maltese government is also doing its part in promoting the rights of the child and women’s rights. The formations of the Commission for the Child and programmes to empower women are helping individuals to get to know their real potential.

Since joining the EU, Maltese society is benefiting from the availability of funds to promote these issues.

Programmes such as Daphne II are providing grants against abuse and violence on women and children.

Thanks to the Nationalist Party and to Malta’s accession to the EU, nowadays we have the tools available to educate and protect civil society with regards to human rights violations. These legal and social apparatus are fundamental for the improvement of a country’s democracy. A democracy that may guarantee a better future to each and every single citizen.

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David Casa is a Nationalist MEP