Make Human Rights Day Last All Year ‘Round
This Monday we celebrated the 64th annual Human Rights Day, a day to celebrate human rights, bring a specific issue into the spotlight, and to advocate for human rights for those whose rights are constantly curtailed. However, Human Rights Day shouldn’t just be a day. It is up to us to make it go on for the whole week, the whole month, even the whole year!
“This year, the spotlight is on the rights of all people — women, youth, minorities, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, the poor and marginalized — to make their voices heard in public life and be included in political decision-making.
These human rights — the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, to peaceful assembly and association, and to take part in government (articles 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) have been at the centre of the historic changes in the Arab world over the past two years, in which millions have taken to the streets to demand change. In other parts of the world, the “99%” made their voices heard through the global Occupy movement protesting economic, political and social inequality.
Make your voice count!
People around the world used #VoiceCount to share their thoughts about the right to participate in public life and political decision-making.”
For more information, visit the United Nations Human Rights Day Page.
