Speaking at the annual African Union summit, the secretary general of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, urged African countries to uphold the rights of civil, political, economic, social and cultural institutions, in order to boost stability and development.
From the summit, held in the capital of Ethopia, Addis Ababa, Ban Ki Moon said,
“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a promise to all people in all places at all times,”
“I salute your efforts to build African prosperity and grow intra-African trade. Our challenge is to transform Africa's potential into progress for all,”
“Yet below the surface [of Arab Spring protests], there was deprivation, exclusion, abuse. Events have proved that repression is a dead-end. Police power is no match for people power seeking dignity and justice,"
