Human rights education is about more than merely the knowledge of a set of rules and principles. It is also about attitude and behaviour. Everyone must be shown how human rights are relevant to them, and how they can apply these rights in their life and work. Frederick Douglass said: “Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.” Once we are aware of our rights, we feel powerful, since knowledge is power.
There is an inseparable relationship between sustainable development and human rights. This relationship can be seen in many different ways. Yet, just as the environment and development are closely bound to each other, they are also bound to human rights. Respect for human rights has been recognised as a prerequisite for development. If people’s fundamental human rights are threatened, if people lack the basic human rights of food, health, education, shelter, freedom of expression, and the right to political participation, their ability to participate in sustainable development is hampered.
To address basic social and economic issues, as well as issues related to the environment, public mobilisation is needed. Yet, it is when public mobilisation happens that human rights are likely to be violated. Environmental degradation as a result of irresponsible practices by governments, industry, and transnational corporations fundamentally infringe on the right of all people to a healthy environment, yet when these powers are challenged, there is a risk involved for those who dare to challenge them.
Where there are people willing to cry out and protect their land, community, environment or their rights, there are people willing to put their lives at risk. Indigenous people protecting their traditional culture and land face marginalisation and persecution.
Young people as a group often lack political power, and are often the ones willing to take risks in order to speak out against injustice. In some countries, entire generations have been wiped out through repression. Every day people die from hunger. One in three children suffers from malnutrition. This is one of the greatest violations of human rights in a world where the distribution of resources, rather than scarcity, is the problem.
Human Rights Day is observed around the globe on December 10. The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on December 10, 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nations.
This year, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment. The United Nations General Assembly created the mandate of high commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights in December 1993. The General Assembly was acting on a recommendation from delegates to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna earlier the same year.
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renewed effort in the protection and promotion of human rights, and is regarded as one of the most significant human rights documents of the past quarter century.
It is indeed high time to accelerate the pace of the global human rights movement. Once people know about their rights, they will want to be a part of this movement. Let’s share with each other what our human rights are. Words are powerful weapons. Words have the power to evoke emotion.
There is no denying that knowing about the 30 articles in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) will motivate millions of people around the world. It will give hope to the discouraged in tough times, honour the dead, and change the course of history.
Every single human being has the right to know about human rights. Many of us realise the fact and act accordingly. Let’s be thankful for our awareness. Let’s share the knowledge with others and make serious efforts.
This is our time. Let’s make a better world together through the human rights movement. Together, we can make human rights a global reality. We must do it at this moment, as the Chinese proverb says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.”
One of the greatest human rights advocates in the world, Nelson Mandela, passed away during the month of December. We can pledge to continue to uphold the spirit and ideology of Mandela for creating a world without discrimination.