Alfred-Maurice de Zayas Quotes - Page 2

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• The families of the killed and disappeared are entitled to the right to know what happened to their loved ones, and to adequate reparation for the suffering endured.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Suffering, Adequate, Loved Ones

  "UN experts urge Iraq to establish the whereabouts of the seven missing residents of Camp Ashraf". dezayasalfred.wordpress.com. December 9, 2013.

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• The abuse of the veto power has become so predictable that frequently resolutions are not even tabled because of the certainty of a veto against their adoption. Necessary discussion is thereby suppressed. Concerted action by the Security Council, the General Assembly and other United Nations agencies is necessary to prevent major human rights violations, stop ongoing breaches and provide remedies to victims.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Agency, Rights, Adoption

  "Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order". August 07, 2013.

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• If you censor yourself, if you cannot articulate your needs, if you cannot articulate your priorities, then whatever you do, putting a little cross in a ballot box, etc, does not represent your view. It is an act of desperation.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Views, Priorities, Doe

  "UN Expert on Democracy Highlights Importance of Free Expression, Information". news.un.org. October 28, 2013.

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• You should not be subjected to the pressures, the intimidation, whether by Government or by the private sector, which would force you into self-censorship.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Government, Self, Pressure

  "Un Expert on Democracy Highlights Importance of Free Expression, Information". news.un.org. October 28, 2013.

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• Democracy entails a correlation between the public interest as expressed by a majority of the population and the governmental policies that affect them. The term encompasses various manifestations, including direct, participatory and representative democracy, but Governments must be responsive to people and not to special interests such as the military-industrial complex, financial bankers and transnational corporations. Democracy is inclusive and does not privilege an anthropological aristocracy.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Military, Government, People

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order". United Nations General Assembly Human Rights Council, Session 24, July 01, 2013.

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• One of the problems that we have in the human rights community is that special interests often forget the interests of other victims, and there's competition among victims expressions that are unnecessary.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Rights, Expression, Community

  "Un Expert on Democracy Highlights Importance of Free Expression, Information". news.un.org. October 28, 2013.

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• Representative democracy betrays the electorate when laws have no roots in the people but in oligarchies. Studies on the concept and modalities of direct democracy are therefore becoming more topical

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Law, Roots, People

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred -Maurice de Zayas". July 01, 2013.

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• The diagnosis is clear, but changing the status quo has proven difficult, because often those who are elected do not govern, and those who do govern are not elected.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Diagnosis, Difficult, Status Quo

  Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, 2013.

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• It is time to reinvigorate the UN General Assembly so that it can exercise a more decisive role in peace-making and peace-keeping, consistent with the will of the international community.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Exercise, Community, Roles

  "Rights Expert Urges the UN General Assembly to Adopt a More Decisive Role in Peace-making". "Alfred de Zayas' Human Rights Corner" blog, dezayasalfred.wordpress.com. September 26, 2013.

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• As far as domestic democracy, all here present know that democracy means government of the people by the people. While we agree that consultation and participation are essential to every democracy, this is seldom achieved in practice.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Mean, Government, Practice

  Statement at the Brussels Conference on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, October 16-17, 2013.

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• I urge Governments to considerably reduce funds allocated to the military, not only as a disarmament issue, but also as a potential contributor to social and environmental protection and call for the holding of referenda on this issue worldwide.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Military, Issues, Government

  "UN Expert Urges States to Cut Military Spending and Invest More in Human Development". www.ohchr.org. April 14, 2014.

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• In a world where millions of human beings live in extreme poverty, die of malnutrition and lack medical care, where pandemics continue to kill, it is imperative to pursue good faith disarmament negotiations and to shift budgets away from weapons production, war-mongering, surveillance of private persons and devote available resources to address global challenges including humanitarian relief, environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, prevention of pandemics, and the development of a green economy.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  War, Challenges, Environmental

  "UN Expert Urges States to Cut Military Spending and Invest More in Human Development". www.ohchr.org. April 14, 2014.

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• Global military spending levels constitute an unconscionable use of resources and remain at an all-time high, reaching a total of USD 1.75 trillion in 2012, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Military, Levels, Use

  "UN Expert Urges States to Cut Military Spending and Invest More in Human Development". www.ohchr.org. April 14, 2014.

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• Some observers compare elections in some countries with sports events, where people are but spectators. Moreover, elections must not be mere interludes for pushing a lever and then retreating to passivity, for democracy demands committed participation in the daily workings of society.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Sports, Country, People

  "Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order". August 07, 2013.

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• Representative democracy frequently manifests a disconnect between parliamentarians and the people, so that parliamentarians have agendas that do not correspond with the wishes of the electorate. This has led in many countries to apathy, cynicism and large-scale absenteeism in elections. What is needed is not only parliaments, but parliamentarians who genuinely represent the wishes of the electorate.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Country, People, Democracy

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred-Maurice de Zayas". July 01, 2013.

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• When negotiations are at an impasse, when States dig their heels in, it is time to 'undig' them in a spirit of compromise. We all need to unlearn the predator in us, unlearn discrimination, unlearn privilege.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Needs, Predator, Privilege

  "From New York to World’s Conflict Zones, UN Marks International Day of Peace". news.un.org. September 21, 2012.

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• Specific protection must be granted to human rights defenders and whistleblowers who have in some contexts been accused of being unpatriotic, whereas they perform, in reality, a democratic service to their countries and to the enjoyment of human rights of their compatriots.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Country, Reality, Rights

  "UN Expert Calls on Countries to Strengthen Protection of Civil Society Voices, Whistleblowers". news.un.org. September 11, 2013.

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• A World Parliamentary Assembly functioning outside the United Nations, or a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly set up as a subsidiary body of the General Assembly pursuant to article 22 of the UN Charter, could start initially as a consultative body and gradually develop into a legislative assembly.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  World, Body, Assembly

  "'Time for a World Parliamentary Assembly'". newsarchive.ohchr.org. October 17, 2013.

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