This year's observance marks 20 years since the adoption by the World Conference on Human Rights of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, remembers in his message the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"This year's observance takes place as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators work together towards the agreed objective of a peaceful, comprehensive settlement on all permanent status issues", Ban Ki-moon says in his message.
"Let us work together to end torture throughout the world and ensure that countries provide reparation for victims", says the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.
"United Nations peacekeeping is increasingly called on to deploy multi-dimensional operations to help countries transition from conflict to peace", says the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.