Human Rights Day message - ‘Let’s keep championing human rights for all’ |10 December 2015
The people of Seychelles are being urged to renew their commitment to protecting, promoting and championing human rights for all.
The calls come from the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Dora Zatte, in her message on the occasion of Human Rights Day today.
Ms Zatte’s message reads:
“Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, all States and interested organisations were invited to observe December 10 of each year as Human Rights Day.
“This year's Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign for the 50th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966.
“The two Covenants, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, form the International Bill of Human Rights, setting out the civil, political, cultural, economic, and social rights that are the birth right of all human beings.
“’Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’ is the logo for the campaign. It aims to promote and raise awareness of the two Covenants on their 50th anniversary. The year-long campaign revolves around the theme of rights and freedoms - freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear - which underpin the International Bill of Human Rights are as relevant today as they were when the Covenants were adopted 50 years ago.
“In the same spirit that the United Nations’ secretary general, Ban Ki-moon,has appealed for everyone, ‘On Human Rights Day’to ‘recommit to guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms and protecting the human rights of all’, the National Human Rights Commission and the government of Seychelles call on the people of Seychelles to renew their commitment to protecting, promoting and championing human rights for all. This theme is particularly relevant and pertinent to the people of Seychelles at this point in time when many may be tempted to forsake what is good, right and noble in the pursuit of other goals. It calls for soul searching and introspection and will guide many who seek to become standard-bearers of excellence.
“The National Human Rights Commission and the government of Seychelles wish all citizens of Seychelles a peaceful, blessed and contemplative Human Rights Day.”