By Jamel Nampijja / GICJ
“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” – Nelson Mandela.[1]
In response to the human rights abuses during the second world war, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on the 10th of December 1948 as the foundation for freedom, justice, and peace. Celebrated annually, the 10th of December marks International Human Rights Day. This day aims at celebrating, promoting, and raising awareness about fundamental human rights outlined in the UDHR, freedom, peace and justice.
The UDHR is a revolutionary document that declares absolute rights that every human is entitled to regardless of their race, gender, religious affiliation, language, political stand, or opinion, national or social origin, property, or birth, among others.
Since its adoption, the UDHR has functioned as the foundation for protecting and upholding human rights systems. Today human rights are acknowledged, accepted, and guaranteed across the globe. Moreover, civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights, are still being violated. Acts of genocide, abduction, torture, arbitrary arrests, detentions without trial, political executions and torture are still rampant.
Armed conflicts are occurring in different parts of the world especially in the Middle East, Africa and recently in Europe. Some of the war crimes in these conflicts amount to crimes against humanity. GICJ regrets that the UN failed to take the required actions to hold those responsible of these crimes accountable.
2022 Human Rights Day Theme: "Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All."
The call to action is #StandUp4HumanRights.
This year's International Human Rights Day theme urges everyone to stand up for our civil, economic, political, and cultural rights and those of others. Additionally, the day aims to enlighten the world about how our rights are a foundation of sustainable development and peaceful societies. Further, the da seeks to acknowledge the work and efforts of advocates and defenders of human rights worldwide.
The 2022 International Human Rights Day marks the beginning of a yearlong campaign by the United Nations ahead of the 75th anniversary of the UDHR. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the UDHR as a resource for advancing human rights. Additionally, the campaign seeks to showcase the legacy, relevance, and activism of the UDHR, as well as diverge understanding and action towards excellent knowledge of the universality of the UDHR.
Current Human Rights challenges
Despite the efforts to protect human rights, the aggression toward human rights and those who defend them continues to rise 74 years after the adoption of the UDHR. Current human rights challenges include Human trafficking, Refugee crises across the globe, Gender inequality, the rise of Nationalism, climate change crisis, attacks on journalists and the spread of misinformation, reprisal, human rights, and technology, among others.
Digital rights
Digital rights are human rights in the internet sphere[2]. These rights include the right to privacy and freedom of expression relating to digital technologies. The rights to online privacy and freedom of expression are extensions of the equal and inalienable rights in the United Nations UDHR.
In September 2019, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution A/HRC/RES/42/15 on the right to privacy in the digital era[3]. The critical aspects of the resolution called on States to ensure that any interference with the right to privacy is consistent with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality. The report affirmed that states must protect human rights online and the right to privacy. The report acknowledged that the development and use of these new emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence have the potential to gravely impact the enjoyment of human rights and the right to privacy.
Reprisal
The annual UN report titled 'Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives, and mechanisms in the field of human rights’ (A/HRC/51/47)[4], delivered on 14 September 2022 during the Fifty-first Human Rights Council, detailed how victims faced intimidation and reprisals. Victims of these human rights violations included among others human rights defenders and journalists who faced unlawful detention, restrictive legislation, and surveilling both on and offline by States and non-State actors. Individuals and groups either refrained from cooperation or only agreed to report anonymously for fear of reprisals.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) reiterates our appeal to all states to review and reflect on their human rights situation. States have a distinct responsibility to protect fundamental freedoms and ensure that the entire population, including human rights defenders, journalists, and minorities.
As we continue to conduct our daily activities online, there's an urgent need to implement laws that protect the rights of online users. Therefore, we urge States and the International Community to continue strengthening Digital Rights for all.
GICJ calls on everyone to stand up for human rights regardless of educational background, gender, geographical location, age, religious background, or profession; the time is now. “A right delayed is a right denied.” – Martin Luther King, Jr[5], this quote is more relevant today than ever.
Education is key to successfully promoting and protecting universal human rights; therefore, GICJ offers Human Rights Training Courses encompassing Human Rights Mechanisms created for human rights activists, journalists, diplomats, lawyers, university students, NGO members and anyone interested in human rights. Participants acquire all the necessary skills and knowledge to promote and protect Human Rights under the UN system.
Human Rights Day, Human rights, Dignity, Freedom, Justice, Justice for All, Digital Rights, Reprisals, Geneva, Justice, Geneva4Justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre for Justice
[1] https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/11-top-quotes-on-human-rights/
[2] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/11/what-are-your-digital-rights-explainer/
[3] https://www.ohchr.org/en/privacy-in-the-digital-age/international-standards
[5] https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/11-top-quotes-on-human-rights/
