Human Rights Day as important as ever - Watson

11.28.58am GMT Fri 8th Dec 2006

Speaking ahead of Human Rights Day on Sunday 10th December, Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, has said that we must use the day to reposition human rights abuses at the forefront of the political agenda.

Speaking prior to Human Rights Day this Sunday, Graham Watson MEP commented:

"Nearly 60 years after members of the United Nations gathered and pledged their support for a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, abysmal human rights abuses continue throughout the world. From Russia to Singapore, Pakistan to Egypt, the cases of prisoners of conscience facing persecution due to their political or religious beliefs must remain at the forefront of our mind. Newspapers may gloss over Anna Politkovskaïa - the Russian journalist assassinated for speaking out about Putin's Russia, Mikhail Khodorkovsky - jailed for having slighted Moscow, Ayman Nour - jailed in Egypt as a member of the main opposition party, or Chee Soon Juan - a prisoner of conscience in Singapore, but we must remember those involved and fight for justice in all instances."

Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) in the European Parliament, was recently refused a visa to visit Mikhail Khodorkovsky and has been active in pursuing those behind human rights abuses for Ayman Nour and Chee Soon Juan.