Arid’s message on International Human Rights Day ‘Let us stand for our human rights’ |11 December 2017
“On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, let us remember our brothers and sisters who have gone missing over the years; let us pray for all victims of human rights violations and for those whose lives have been taken away at the pleasure of some other human beings. Let us stand for our human rights.”
This comes in a message from the Association for Rights Information and Democracy (Arid) on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day celebrated yesterday, December 10.
The full text of the message reads:
“December 10 is the International Human Rights Day, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly. Human Rights Day is a time to reaffirm that as human beings we are all born free and equal in rights and dignity and that no individual, corporation, group or governmental can take away our basic human rights. The UN charter on Human Rights is a document that proclaimed the unchallengeable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
“In Seychelles we have come a long way in upholding the human rights of our citizens, during the epoch of the one party state in Seychelles, many nationals who did not agree to the way Seychelles was being ruled after the coup d’état had to go in exile or some were even arrested and detained without trial and sadly even cases of assassination and missing persons were recorded. Today in a new Seychelles where our democracy is evolving we place great emphasis on the protection of human rights.
“Our association, Arid, is mandated to sensitise citizens on their rights and obligations and most importantly to protect and uphold human rights.
On this important celebration I would like to remind all political, civic and religious leaders on their role in the protection of human rights in our country. A few weeks ago Arid human rights observers visited some living quarters where construction migrant workers are staying and we have observed that some of these living quarters are below the minimal standards. We have also observed that migrant workers are being transported in open trucks to and from the construction sites which is against the health and safety requirements. We have written to the Minister for Health, Minister for Employment and other agencies but no response and no action from them until now. We need to respect the rights of everyone including migrant workers. Another sad chapter is the disappearance of two of our fellow brothers this year. Seychelles has ratified the UN convention on missing persons and it is the obligation on the state to ensure that every citizen is protected. On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, we remember our brothers and sisters who have gone missing over the years, we pray for all victims of human rights violations and for those whose lives have been taken away at the pleasure of some other human beings. Let us stand for our human rights.”