Geneva (Switzerland). On 10 December 2024, the World Day of Human Rights is celebrated, on the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This historic document was the first to enshrine universally the fundamental human rights of every person and is the most translated in the world, in as many as 577 languages.
“Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” is the theme of this year’s Day. It highlights how relevant human rights are in our everyday lives as building blocks towards a more peaceful, equal, and sustainable world. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has stated, “human rights are the foundation of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.”
Put simply, human rights protect people. As human beings, all have an inherent dignity; no one is greater than another. Because of this truth, everyone has the same basic needs and desires: access to food and clean water, a livable wage, education, and a safe home. These are not privileges of some, but rather rights of all.
Since human rights are universal, everyone has a duty to promote them in their local communities. We should not wait for the leaders or peace mediators to reach agreements; we can act now. By intervening against hate speech, correcting misinformation, and countering disinformation, you can make communities fairer and more just for all.
Indeed, one cannot wait for global leaders to act. According to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, “around the world, wars are upending millions of lives, driving the highest number of refugees (37.4 million) and forcibly displaced people (almost 120 million) ever recorded.” The effects of COVID-19 continue to have a significant impact on education, as many countries are facing a decline in student math and reading levels. On a whole, inequalities are only rising, rather than decreasing. Although these may seem like challenges that cannot be met by on one’s own, working together in solidarity with the neighbors, you can begin to make a difference, especially in local communities.
The Human Rights Office of the International Institute Mary Help of Christians (IIMA) has been working to promote peaceful and inclusive societies at all levels through the implementation of programs for sustainable development. Many of these programs with women and children to end their human rights abuses. These projects also increase their awareness of human rights and how they are present in their daily lives. In the period 2020-2024, IIMA has implemented a total of 2,605 projects with 1,014,194 beneficiaries in 87 countries. This number represents almost 10% of all IIMA’s beneficiaries.
Moreover, IIMA continues to share good practices with stakeholders worldwide. On 12 December 2024, IIMA hosts the online event, “ The Commitment of the Human Rights Council to Youth and Human Rights: Addressing the Digital Divide, Online Threats and Mental Health“ from:
- 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. PET (Lima, Perù)
- 7:30 – 9:00 ECT (Quito, Ecuador)
- 13:30 – 15:00 CET (Ginevra, Svizzera)
- 14:30 – 16:00 CAT (Juba, Sud Sudan)
- 15:30 – 17:00 (Nairobi, Kenya)
- 18:00 – 19:30 IST (Nuova Delhi, India)
- 18:15 – 19:45 TNP (Kathmandu, Nepal)
This online event aims to provide insights into the importance of digital education, online safety, and mental health from the perspective of young people on the ground. To this end, girls and young women from Ecuador, Peru, India, and South Sudan will share their views/experiences in the panel, together with representatives from the Permanent Mission of Romania to the UN in Geneva and the OHCHR. Link to register
According to Pope Francis, “ Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter.” (Dignitas infinita, 1) As such, everyone is called to protect the human rights of brothers and sisters in need. Through increased awareness of human rights and education in safeguarding these rights, we will be able to defend, protect, and advance our human rights to create a fairer world for all.
