Human Rights Day 2020

             This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/human-rights-day-2020-theme-campaign-slogan-importance-2336402. The second was published at  https://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/humanrightsdays2020.html. The third was published at   https://virgin.co.uk/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/thoughts-on-human-rights-day

                 This year's human rights day focuses on the devastating fallout of COVID-19 pandemic on the underpriviliged people, children, and women and the need to build back better by ensuring human rights are central to recovery efforts. Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 and every year the U.N. encourages nations "to create equal opportunities for all and address the issue of inequality, exclusion and discrimination. Human Rights Day is a great opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of human rights in our communities and worldwide solidarity in rebuilding after the pandemic. "Recover Better - Stand Up For Human Rights" is the theme for human rights day this year. The aim is to engage with all partners and also involve the people to push  for transformative action. The pandemic has pushed innumerable people to the brink. In order to "build back better", the widening gap among people must be addressed, according to the world rights body. 1) End discrimination of any kind.  2) Take steps to protect economic rights.  3) Encourage participation and solidarity.  4) Promote sustainable development.                                                                     The theme for this year's Human Rights Day relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to recover better by ensuring human rights are at the heart of the recovery efforts. The global COVID-19 crisis has been fuelled by deepening poverty, rising inequalities, strucutural and entrenched discrimination and other gaps in human rights protection. Only measures to close these gaps and advanced human rights can ensure we fully recover to a world that is better and more resilient, just and sustainable. Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in re-building the world we want, with global solidarity, interconnectedness and shared humanity. The annual celebration of Human Rights Day highlight how people everywhere stand up for human rights. In Geneva, on 10 December, UN human Rights will host "Recover better: stand up for Human Rights", an exclusive online audio-visual event. The 90-minute programme will highlight innovation by and inspirational stories of people and organizations that are finding ways to rebuild a better world by placing human rights at the heart of the recovery from COVID-19. In New York, UN Human Rights will host "ACelebration of COVID-19 Frontline Heroes." This one-hour virtual event will spotlight frontline workers who have borne the brunt of the pandemic and community organizers who have helped those around them to cope with the pandemic in a human rights-centered manner. In Latin America, an online concert will be organized on recovery better through music.                                                                                                                      Human Rights Day is more than a commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by UN members states on 10 December 1948 - in and of itself a real accomplishment of a weary human family emerging from the bloodshed and terror of World War II. It is a good reminder that the idea of human rights must never be taken for granted. Millions around the world continue  to live under constant threat of discrimination, intimidation, persecution, torture and even death for standing up for their human rights and those of others. Many continue to languish in prisons for speaking truth to power, for demanding recognition and respect, for challenging authoritarianism and oppression. Perhaps the most tragic part for many is that their voices are never heard, their stories never told, and their names never known. As respect for the rule of law has eroded in so many places, and human rights and human dignity have come under attack from populists and authoritarian rulers alike, this is the moment to stand up, speak our minds and demand change.