OREANDA-NEWS. March 20, 2012. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. presented a translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into the Nivkh language, reported the press-centre of Sakhalin Energy.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948. It sets out, for the first time, the need to protect the fundamental human rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the most translated document in the world. The most recent - No 383 - official translation of the Universal Declaration is the translation into the Nivkh language. The new translation has been officially registered by OHCHR and published on the OHCHR website. A hardcopy version of the translation will be on permanent display at the OHCHR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The translation was executed by Vladimir Sangi, a well-known Nivkh writer, with Sakhalin Energy financial support.

“Observance of and respect for human rights is the key principle of our company”, noted Andrei Galaev, Chief Executive Officer of Sakhalin Energy. “Contributing in the sustainable development of Sakhalin, we are focused on the most sensitive social aspects, one of which is the development Sakhalin indigenous people. The Sakhalin indigenous people have enormous living potential. However, it becomes increasingly harder for indigenous people to maintain their traditional lifestyles. In the contemporary world, even the ethnic minorities’ languages cannot stand up against the severe competition with other languages. We hope that the publication of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will help the Nivkh people to protect their unique culture.”

Mr. Ryszard Komenda, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the UN Country Team in the Russian Federation (representing Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights), said: “Protection of the rights of indigenous people, including the protection of their native languages, cultures and lifestyles, is a priority of the UN activities worldwide, including Russia, which is the home of about 40 registered indigenous peoples. The human rights’ protection has been made possible in no small part due to support from business.”

The presentation was attended by representatives of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Russian authorities, international organisations and non-profit agencies.