Thoughts on Human Right Day 2011

The Human Rights Day is observed on 10 December every year by the international community to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on this day in 1948.

UDHR is the universal standard for the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide adopted by almost all countries 63 years back, although the Declaration with its broad range of political, civil, social, cultural and economic rights is not a binding document.

Year 2011 had become much important in lieu of human rights as this year has witnessed enormous demonstrations of protests for fortification of human rights almost across the planet.

In the Arab world, millions of people took to the street in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya to claim their human rights against the tyranny of the state. The spirit was also noticed through young activists and ordinary citizens in Chile, Greece and cities such as Madrid, Jerusalem and even New York.

Social media has played vital role in promotion and protection of human rights in the current year. The Human Right movement has been fired up by the ignition of social media sites. The spirit of the famous ‘occupy movement’ could sparked in several countries only due to social media. Hence, the theme of 2011 recognized ‘the significance of social media and technology in assisting human rights defenders’.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides THE RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION, RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MINORITIES, PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION, RIGHTS OF WOMEN, RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, RIGHTS OF OLDER PERSONS, RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE in PROTECTION OF PERSONS SUBJECTED TO DETENTION OR IMPRISONMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE, PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, MARRIAGE, RIGHT TO HEALTH, RIGHT TO WORK AND TO FAIR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, Right against SLAVERY, SLAVERY-LIKE PRACTICES AND FORCED LABOUR, RIGHTS OF MIGRANTS, Rights to NATIONALITY, STATELESSNESS, ASYLUM AND REFUGEES, Right for WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, INCLUDING GENOCIDE with Humanitarian laws for all.

The constitution of India has been prepared keeping in mind the norms and requirements of the UDHR to provide better protection of human rights to its citizens.

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has invited the world community to a global conversation Torrente live on web in ‘social UN webcast’, Facebook and Twitter on the eve of Human Rights Day on 10 December 2011.

Human rights are for all which bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values. On Human Rights Day 2011 we pay tribute to all human rights defenders and request you to do whatever you can to provide human right to all.