A/HRC/23/29 II. Opening statements A. Secretary-General 5. The Secretary-General, in his opening remarks, delivered via video message, stressed that human rights and fundamental freedoms were the lifeblood of the United Nations and that the adoption of the VDPA two decades previously had advanced efforts to strengthen human rights work around the world. Important principles had been reinforced, including the universality of human rights and the duty of States to uphold them. Promoting and protecting human rights had also been confirmed as a priority United Nations objective. This had led to the decision to create the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights. In that context, the Secretary-General commended the High Commissioner and her predecessors for their indispensable contributions, underlining that whenever and wherever rights had been violated or threatened, their voice had been consistent, clear and resonant. 6. The Secretary-General recalled that Vienna was an important milestone. However, there was still a long way to go to translate principle into practice as human rights and the rule of law were but a distant dream for many people. In his view, the panel was an opportunity to reflect on commitments made over the years and ask what actions must be taken immediately to implement them fully. Only when the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family were truly respected, could we expect freedom, justice and peace, he said. B. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 7. The High Commissioner recalled that in her opening statement to the Council on 25 February, she spoke of the many achievements of the World Conference and its contribution to the development and strengthening of the international human rights system. She also recalled that the Conference was instrumental in the creation of a High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights, and indicated that, when she participated in the Vienna Conference as a civil society representative, she could never have imagined addressing the Council as High Commissioner. 8. The High Commissioner stressed that the World Conference took place at a turning point in the twentieth century, and at a time of transformation marked by shifting paradigms and new opportunities. The Vienna Conference led to lasting achievements in human rights, and forged strong relationships among human rights activists. They learned the value of cooperation and linkages across interests and the North-South divide. Their participation created a “human rights identity” within civil society, increasing public awareness of human rights issues and the importance of promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. 9. The High Commissioner recalled that the Conference also led to a new appreciation by Governments and human rights activists of gender-specific human rights violations, as well as a new appreciation by women’s rights activists of the value of international human rights. A major focus of women’s organizations in the lead-up to the Vienna Conference, and at the Conference itself, had been violence against women, an issue largely excluded from the human rights discourse because of its perceived private, non-State nature. Women’s organizations had led the call for the recognition of violence against women as a human rights violation. The recognition of the link between genocide and crimes of sexual violence in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court owed much to the Vienna Conference. 10. The High Commissioner underlined that the importance of listening to the experience of those directly affected by human rights violations was also recognized during 4