All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Those words, the first clause of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, were introduced to the world 60 years ago next week.

The anniversary is being marked in Victoria with a two-day conference this weekend (Dec. 6 and 7) at Cadboro Bay United Church.

With a variety of speakers, exhibits and workshops, the conference will focus attention on the role of human rights in promoting justice in today’s world.

Keynote speaker Mary-Wynne Ashford, past-president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, will present case studies from around the world where communities have crossed religious lines to end wars.

“There has been an enormous change in the world (since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union) and specifically the number of wars in the world has dropped by 90 per cent,” she said.

“Lesser wars, internal wars, have dropped by 40 per cent.”

The reasons, she says, have included the growth of the United Nations’ influence and the refinement of international law.

But Ashford will focus on the role of civil society, “ordinary people all over the world taking action to stop armed conflict.”

“What I want to point out is that these efforts of ordinary people are in fact an important part of what is happening to change the world.”

Registration for the conference is free and available online at www.victoriamultifaith.com or for more information, call Beth Gibson at 250-388-7912.

kvass@vicnews.com