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| Mogens Jensen on the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the Millennium Development Goals |
Copenhagen
- Today, Mogens Jensen takes off to the Himalayas where he will be highlighting the importance of Human Rights and
the Millennium Development Goals.
Among all of the equipment in his backpack, Jensen included two unusual items
which he intends to take to the top of Mount Everest: the U.N. flag and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The
expedition will take place toward the middle or the end of May. Before the ascent, Jensen will participate in a
ceremony with more than 60 Danish mountain climbers.
At a press conference in Copenhagen yesterday, Jakob Simonsen,
the Head of UNDP's Nordic Office, gave Jensen a copy of the Declaration and flag.
”It is a great honour for me to cooperate with the UN and
bring the
Human Rights to the top and commemorate the anniversary. Human Rights
affect us all and should never be taken for granted. For me it is a
huge motivation factor bringing the Human Rights to the top of the
world,” said Jensen.
Jensen gained international fame when he attempted to climb Mount Everest in 2006 and
2007, without any oxygen and despite his asthma. In 2006 he had to give up only 350
metres from the top due to safety reasons. On 22 May 2007 he reached the top by using his oxygen reserve above 7,500 meters.
”Human Rights are universal. They count for all people and in all parts of the world. This is why we got excited when Mogens
Jensen recently contacted us and asked if we were interested in the idea of bringing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
to the top,” said Simonsen.
”It has only been little more than three months since we celebrated the 60th anniversary
of the Declaration of Human Rights. I can hardly imagine a more outstanding way to mark the anniversary than to climb the
highest mountain in the world to celebrate the rights of all people,” says Jakob Simonsen.
Mogens Jensen hopes
to be able to talk with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on a satellite phone in a possible visit to Copenhagen in May.
