December 10th is Human Rights Day. On this day the whole world celebrates (this year mostly virtually) one of the greatest accomplishments of the last century, the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.in 1948. The Declaration set out, for the first time in history, those fundamental human rights that Governments all over the world undertook to respect, protect and promote. .In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
And ever since that auspicious day it has stood as the first major stride forward in ensuring that the rights of every human across the globe are protected. From the most basic human needs such as food, shelter, and water, all the way up to access to free and uncensored information, such has been the goals and ambitions laid out that day.
The Declaration proclaims a simple, yet powerful idea :
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," "They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
These rights are the birthright of all people: it does not matter, what country we live in and even who we are. Because we are human, we have these rights; and Governments are bound to protect them. They are not a reward for good behaviour, nor they are optional or the privilege of a few- they are inalienable entitlements of all people, at all times- regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. And because they are universal, they are also matters of legitimate concern; and standing up for them is a responsibility that binds us all.
It is the
most translated document in the world, available in more than 500
languages.
When the General Assembly adopted the Declaration, with 48 states in
favor and eight abstentions, it was proclaimed as a "common standard of
achievement for all peoples and all nations", towards which individuals
and societies should "strive by progressive measures, national and
international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and
observance".
Although the Declaration with its broad range of
political, civil, social, cultural and economic rights is not a binding
document, it inspired more than 60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights. It has helped shape human rights all over the world.
Today
the general consent of all United Nations Member States on the basic
Human Rights laid down in the Declaration makes it even stronger and
emphasizes the relevance of Human Rights in our daily lives.The High Commissioner for Human Rights,
as the main United Nations rights official, plays a
major role in coordinating efforts for the yearly observation of Human
Rights Day.
Human Rights Day reminds us that there is much to be done and around the world to protect those who cannot voice
or respond to perpetrated discrimination and violence caused by
governments, vigilantes, and individual actors. In many instances, those
who seek to divide people for subjective means and for totalitarian
reasons do so around the globe without fear of retribution. Violence, or
the threat of violence, perpetrated because of differences in a host of
physical and demographic contrasts and dissimilarities is a blight on
our collective humanity now and a danger for our human future.
Human Rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every
person in the world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of
where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your
life. They should never be taken away, these basic rights are based on values such as
dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence. But human rights
are not just abstract concepts, they are defined and protected by law.
The aim of Human Rights Day is to raise awareness around the world of
our inalienable rights – rights to basic needs such as water, food,
shelter and decent working conditions. In the UK we are protected by the
Human Rights Act 1998, however in other countries, especially
developing countries, the laws are not in place to protect people and to
ensure that their basic needs are met.
For millions of people, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is
still just a dream.Many people around the world are still denied the
most basic of human rights on a daily basis. Women’s rights are still
repeatedly denied and marginalised throughout
the globe, despite 70 years of the milestone declaration on human
rights. Confronted with widespread gender-based violence, hate and
discrimination, women’s well-being and ability to live full and active
lives in society are being seriously challenged.
Racism, xenophobia and intolerance are still problems prevalent in all societies, and discriminatory practices are widespread, particularly regarding the targeting of migrants and refugees. including in rich countries where men, women and children who have committed no crime are often held in detention for prolonged periods. They are frequently discriminated against by landlords, employers and state-run authorities, and stereotyped and vilified by some political parties, media organizations and members of the public.
Many other groups face discrimination to a greater or lesser degree. Some of them are easily definable such as persons with disabilities, stateless people, gays and lesbians, members of particular castes and the elderly. Others may span several different groups and find themselves discriminated against on several different levels as a result.
Those who are not discriminated against often find it hard to comprehend the suffering and humiliation that discrimination imposes on their fellow individual human beings. Nor do they always understand the deeply corrosive effect it has on society at large.
Nearly a billion people do not have enough food to eat, and even in
wealthier countries like the UK and the US where there is an increasing
growth in food banks.
Poverty is a leading factor in the failure to protect the economic and
social rights of many individuals around the world. For the half of the
world population living on less than $2.50 a day, human rights lack any
practical meaning.
For this Human Rights Day we must continue to stand with all people targeted for giving
expression to the vision and values embodied in the declaration. Every day must be Human Rights Day, as every
person in the world is entitled to the full and indivisible range of
human rights every day of his or her life.Global human rights are not selective in their value or meaning, nor are they
limited to a day or time of year. Until all people have access to these
human rights we must stand up, advocate for, and insist that more must
be done. Human Rights Day should serve as a reminder to act for those
lacking basic rights each and everyday.
Human Rights Day calls on us all to ‘stand up for someone's rights
today!’ It reminds us what we have achieved over the years to respect,
promote and protect human rights. It also asks to recommit and re-engage
in championing these rights for our shared humanity since whenever and
wherever humanity's values of equality, justice and freedom are
abandoned, we all are at greater risk.
This year’s Human Rights Day theme is to "Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights". This year the theme is in sync with the COVID pandemic and it focuses on creating equal opportunities for everyone to address the failures and disappointments we all were exposed to due to COVID -19. and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring Human Rights are central to recovery efforts.
We will reach our common global goals only if we are able to create equal opportunities for all, address the failures exposed and exploited by COVID-19, and apply human rights standards to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination.
The COVID-19 crisis has been fuelled by deepening poverty, rising inequalities, structural and entrenched discrimination and other gaps in human rights protection. Only measures to close these gaps and advance human rights can ensure we fully recover and build back a world that is better, more resilient, just, and sustainable.
The UN partners for Human Rights have listed out measures that should be kept in mind to seal the gaps in human rights protection that were fuelled by COVID crisis this year. There is a list of measures that need to be followed to make our society and in turn the whole world a more resilient and just place.
- End discrimination of any kind
- Address inequalities
- Encourage participation and solidarity
- Promote sustainable development
It’s important to acknowledge that human rights, have rarely been gifted to us through benevolent leaders. Rather, they have been won after long fought battles and collective struggle. We need to recognize and pay tribute to human rights defenders the world over, putting their lives on the line for others, our voice must be their voice.
As thousands of struggles have proved, human rights are a vital lever in the quest for equality and social justice. If governments will no longer protect human rights it will be up to us, the people to keep on fighting for them and ensure our human right are always upheld.
Lets work to achieve a better life for all. And more importantly, to continue to take a stand for people whose human rights are still not being met across the globe, find a way to use our voices for those who may not have an opportunity to advocate for themselves. At the same time strengthening international law and justice in order to end impunity, and bring to justice those guilty of violations of human rights and offer protection to their victims.
Today is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in rebuilding the world we want, the need for global solidarity as well as our interconnectedness and shared humanity. A future of cooperation among citizens, peoples and between nations. It is a a prerequisite for a more peaceful future where disputes are solved through negotiation and diplomacy.
"If your neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor, "- Desmond Tutu
http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/
I Have the Right
I have the right to my own opinions
to state what I believe to be the truth,
I believe in freedom of thought
I believe in freedom of speech,
I have the right to be free from bondage
to be free from chains and mental slavery,
to choose what I want to be, where I need to go
because this is my right to be free.
I have the right to speak out
this is my choice, this is my conscience,
this is my right to freedom of expression
this right allows me to speak out against oppression,
this right allows me to stand against transgression,
aggression, exploitation
this right acknowledges that all born equal and free.
Everyone is a unique individualistic form
all have a right to life and liberty,
dignity and pride, the security of protection
that allows us to cry, to love and laugh,
remember that when justice is forgotten
alternative paths trample down opposition,
decency and justice, respect, and all that has been given
so keep on fighting for human rights with no inhibition
remember actions speak louder than words
and what unites us is greater than what seperates
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