The 10th of December is the UN’s International Day of Human Rights – a day to celebrate the achievements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but also a reminder that we all have a responsibility to stand up for human rights 365 days a year.
Blog post by media volunteer, Jack Tannock
What Rights?
The UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10th December 1948, is the most prominent and important statement of human rights. As a testament to this, it is the most translated document in the world, having been translated into 370 languages and dialects from Abkhaz to Zulu.
The Declaration contains 30 articles each outlining a different right, the most significant being Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
The other 29 articles deal with just about every right and freedom which applies to humankind – from the right to an education to the right not to be slaves.
Read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights here.
What do human rights mean to you?
To mark the day, we asked our staff and volunteers to tell us what human rights means to them. Here’s what they had to say:
Working for Scottish Refugee Council we see people every day who are suffering because their human rights have not been recognised. We have a duty to make sure they are safe and supported.
“Human rights are about how folk treat each other and respecting a person even if you don’t agree with them.”
For me human rights are about recognising the thing that we share in common: we’re all human. We have the same basic wants and needs, although we too often seem to forget this.
“I guess if I had to put it into a sentence I would say that human rights is thing that is most abused throughout the world but it is the basic freedom that everyone should have.”
Get down to the core and we are all human. Strip away the differences and we all have the same makeup.
“For me it’s about universality – and fighting to protect everyone’s rights universally.”
Human Rights is a set of principles to let everyone live in dignity. The realisation of these rights for everyone, however, is an aspiration and is a constant fight for all of us against all forms of power imbalance, abuse and discrimination, such as along gender, class and race lines.
“It’s all about equality – globally and locally. We don’t own Scotland just because we happened to be born here.”
Human Rights are fundamental to our society. We should all have basic dignities regardless of who we are.
“It’s great to know that so many of us are working for human rights. They matter to everyone regardless of social or political context.”
It’s knowing that we’re entitled to equality for everyone. No one should have special privileges.
“Knowing you can live your life the way you want to without fearing anyone or harming anyone.”
It’s about protecting freedom of speech and equality.
“We must all have the right to a normal life.”
The right to live in a fair and just society. Human rights are about basic rights and freedoms. At the heart of human rights are issues of social justice and equality – they apply to everyone.
“It’s the basic standard of living that everyone has a right to.”
To me Human Rights are the fundamental set of values and rights that define how we treat each other as human beings both as individuals and within communities, societies and nations.
“Human rights – if they are to have any meaning at all – should be rights which you enjoy simply because you are a human being. They are not a privilege. They are a responsibility.”
Human Rights must protect human life and dignity.
What do human rights mean to you? Tell us on Facebook.
