UN Farewell

(statement forwared to all colleagues at the Palais Wilson, to the Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights, and to the experts of the Human Rights Committee, Committee Against Torture, and Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)

Dear colleagues, estimados colegas, chers amis,

„Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage ...“

(Joachim du Bellay 1522-1560)

I am about the enter a new dimension: earlyretirement. After twenty-two years of UN assignments and missions, I now look forward to new challenges and vistas. It may feel somewhat téméraire to retire at 55, but

“Break, break, break
on thy cold, grey stones, O sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
the thoughts that arise in me.”

(Tennyson 1809-1892)

And indeed, many variegated thoughts do arise. Thoughts of gratitude for the privilege of working under Theo van Boven and Kurt Herndl and Jakob Möller, of collaborating with the experts of the Human Rights Committee, Committee Against Torture, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in the noble task of bringing hope to individuals who have suffered violations of their human rights

Thoughts of satisfaction over the important and innovative case law created and the concrete measures of redress granted to victims

Thoughts of recognition to the members and former members of the Petitions Unit, a team of promising and committed young lawyers for whom the UN is not just a job, and who believe in what they are doing

Thoughts of regret for not having been able to help victims more.

Melancholic thoughts of time and water,

“Mirar el río de tiempo y agua
y recordar que el tiempo es otro río
Saber que nos perdemos con el río
y que los rostros pasan con el agua …

Cuentan que Ulises, harto de prodigios
lloró de amor al designar su Itaca
verde y humilde. El arte es esa Itaca
de verde eternidad, no de prodigios … »

(Jorge Luis Borges, 1899-1984)

Thoughts of turning inwards to core values, recalling Candide’s admonition

“il faut cultiver notre jardin”

(Voltaire, 1694-1778)

recalling, too, a certain rosegarden

“Cultivo una rosa blanca
en junio como en enero
para el amigo sincero
que me da su mano franca.
Y para el cruel que me arranca
el corazón con que vivo
cardo ni ortiga cultivo,
cultivo una rosa blanca »

(Jose Marti, 1850-1895)

Colegas y amigos! Life is out there, so vast, so rich, and full of wonders. There is so much to learn and discover still:

“Es muss das Herz bei jedem Lebensrufe
Bereit zum Abschied sein und Neubeginne,
um sich in Tapferkeit und ohne Trauern
in andre, neue Bindungen zu geben.
Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne,
Der uns beschützt und der uns hilf zu leben“

(Hermann Hesse, 1877-1962)

There are thoughts of progress, falling and new beginning:

Und wir, die an steigendes Glück
denken, empfänden die Rührung,
die uns beinah bestürzt,
wenn ein Glückliches fällt“

(Rainer Maria Rilke, 1875-1926)

And new beginning there shall be. Conscious of the privilege of having worked for human rights and peace, I shall keep in touch with many of you, and continue in the same spirit outside the United Nations.

Ave atque vale, valete!

Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
Geneva, December 2002