Human Rights Day 2016

              Almost one month ago, precisely on 10th of December, all the world celebrated the Human Rights Day. This post is a summary of five articles. The first was published at http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/ . The second was published at http://www.ifes.org/news/celebrating-human-rights-day-2016. The third was published at ://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/12/265040.htm. The fourth was published at http://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/about.html. The fifth was published at http://freeassembly.net/news/human-rights-day-2016/

                Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the assembly passed resolution 423 inviting all states to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day. This year, Human Rights Day calls on everyone to stand up for someone's rights! Disrespect for basic human rights continues to be wide-spread in all parts of the globe. Messages of intolerance and hatred prey on our fears. Humane values are under attack. Wherever we are, we can make a real difference. In the street, in school, at work, in the voting booth, on social media. The time for this is now. "We the people" can take a stand for rights. And together, we can take a stand for more humanity. It starts with each of us. "Upholding human rights is in the interest of all. Respect for human rights advances well-being for every individual, stability for every society, and harmony for our interconnected world" said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

                Human Rights Day is observed in December 10th. On this occasion, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) affirms its commitment to support all citizens' rights to participate in free, fair and inclusive elections. At IFES, we believe the right to vote is a fundamental political and human right and that true democracy allows each citizen to fully participate in the political and democratic processes of their country. We inform and encourage all individuals to add their voice to the democratic process. IFES has advanced good governance by empowering citizens to participate in the political process. IFES's inclusion programming is always targeted to achieve impact to increase participation and influence in political and electoral activities for all people.

                 The U.N. General Assembly adopted the U.D.H.R. 68 years ago to recognize  the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of all individuals. On this International Human Rights Day, we recommit ourselves to upholding universal respect for fundamental freedoms of all humankind. The U.D.H.R. holds the promises of hope for the civilians who are caught in the crossfire of conflict, the citizens who fight against repressive governments, the families that are driven out of their homes and displaced by conflict, and the workers who are exploited for the profit of others. We stand in solidarity with those working to secure better and brighter futures, and commit to safeguarding their inalienable human rights in the pursuit of freedom, justice and peace.  

                 Many of us are fearful about the way the world is heading. Extremist movements subject people to horrific violence. Conflicts and deprivations are forcing families from their homes. Everywhere, it seems, anxieties are deepening. Humanes values are under attack, and we feel overwhelmed, unsure what to do or where to turn. Messages of intolerance prey on our faces. They are spread by people who seek power, deploying twisted logic and false promises, and fabricating outright lies. Their narratives speak to selfishness, separatism, a distorting, narrow view of the world. Little by little, this toxic tide of hatred is rising, and the vital principles that safeguard peaceful societies risk being swept away. We must draw the line, and we can. The U.N. Human Rights Office upholds values that are the roots of peace and inclusion. We advocate practical solutions to fear and injustice, so governments protect the rights of all their people in line with international law. Join us. Help break the toxic patterns of a fearful world and embark on a more peaceful and sustainable future. Wherever we are, we can make a real difference. We can step forward to help safeguard someone's right to live free from abuse. We can raise our voices for decent values. We can join others to publicly lobby for better leadership, better laws and greater respect for human dignity. The time for this is now. Let us know what you are doing, and we will gather your stories, and amplify your voice. And together, we can take a stand for more humanity. It starts with each of us.

                  Independent experts of the U.N. Human Rights System urges all governments aroind the world to stand up for human rights. "The greatest achievement of the international community since the end of World War II has been the construction of an international human rights system based upon the U.D.H.R. which was adopted 68 years ago. Since that time, enormous strides have been made in establishing universal standards, encouraging widespread domestic adoption of those standards, and in effectively defending the rights of groups and individuals who are under threat in their own societies. But today, a chill wind is blowing. Hate speech aiming to incite violence, hostility, and discrimination is dramatic on the rise. Democratic institutions are being systematically undermined. More and more governments are turning to increasingly intrusive technologies which systematically embed and exploit means of mass surveillance which threaten a whole range of fundamental human rights. In many parts of the world these assaults on human rights are being reinforced by attacks on the human rights movement. The space for civil society, without which there can be no enduring and meaningful respect for rights, has been effectively closed down by many governments. Funding for human rights bodies is shrinking, attacks on the integrity of monitoring mechanisms are increasing, and any form of international solidarity is rejected as a threat to national interests. Human Rights Day 2016 represents a watershed moment when all of us will need to stand up and be counted if the huge achievements of the past 68 years are to be protected and advanced.