Sunday 10th December is Human Rights Day.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
It sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
In 2018, people around the world recorded themselves reading an article of the Declaration in their native language.
The videos – in over 80 languages, from 130 countries – are posted here Universal Declaration of Human Rights Multilingual Video Collection
Although it is not legally binding, the protection of the rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration has been incorporated into many national constitutions and domestic legal frameworks. All states have a duty, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights for everyone without discrimination.
(Article 2) Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
(Article 21) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
SIS operates with a Mission, Vision and Values that align with Human Rights.
We believe that everybody should be treated with respect. That everybody should be free to live without discrimination. That everybody is equal and has the right to access public services.
We joined with over 75 other organisations to sign a letter to the Prime Minister celebrating human rights and calling on all political leaders to reaffirm the commitment to universal human rights for all people, through both words and actions.
You can read the letter here https://www.bihr.org.uk/media/tbzl2h5e/human-rights-day-2023-letter.pdf
We fully support the United Nations’ call to action this year: to support a movement of shared humanity while empowering people to claim their rights.
Arran Evans – SIS Director