Excerpts from His Imperial Majesties speech at the opening 
session of the Human Rights Conference 
in Tehran, 1968



...Although we always regard the principles of International Law and morality with due respect, we also find it necessary to adapt these principles to varied circumstances. Political conditions and material standards of human beings have been undergoing constant change for the past twenty years, and invariably these developments have affected the significance of Human Rights. As we have frequently repeated on different occasions in the past few years, human rights had until recently represented political and legal equality among individuals. Whereas in today's world, political rights without social justice, law without social equality and, finally, political democracy without economic freedom is meaningless.

In such circumstances, humanity can achieve greater heights and progress by unshackling itself from the conventions and laws which have been imposed through the centuries, on the broad spectrum of the relatively deprived majority, by a select minority. 

The effective implementation of law, the assurance of civil rights and political democracy together with social justice and economic freedom, are not only the duties of every government, but they are the greatest heritage that can be bequeathed to humanity in its quest for peace. 

It is only under these conditions that man's rights can safely and effectively be secured and the human race spared from the evils of disease, lethargy, and war...