Swiss watchmaker Swatch issues special Human Rights Council product

Keeping up with the march of time, the Swiss watch maker Swatch today presented a special edition of its product to Secretary-General Kofi Annan to commemorate the inauguration of the new United Nations Human Rights Council.

“I would like to applaud Swatch for having produced the special version of their famous timepiece to mark this historic occasion,” Mr. Annan said on receiving the watch, which has a blue face with a big 19 on it for the date and a blue globe and an orange dove on its band.

“I have to admit being a bit confused when I was told about the presentation of the new ‘Human Rights Swatch,’” he joked. “I thought people were talking about that admirable NGO we all know – and which played a significant part in the effort to bring about the creation of the Human Rights Council. I'm obviously referring to Human Rights Watch,” he told Swatch Chief Executive Officer Nicolas Hayek at the ceremony in Geneva.

Then, speaking in French, he added: “But basically, I don’t think this mistake is so serious. Without doubt a watch is called a ‘watch’ in English because it lets you keep an eye on the time, and also to ensure that others are on time.

“And that’s exactly the way we must use our new Swatch – to ensure that we’re all on time, on time for the 21st century as far as human rights are concerned. Our work in this field must be synchronized with the most active part of civil society, of which Human Rights Watch is a very good example.”