10 December is the International day for Human Rights. Tomorrow is a chance for all of us to remind ourselves what it really means to be human.
A world that has been extensively traumatized by two World Wars, with millions of casualties, a great number of immigrants, and orphan children left behind. A world that fell prey to nationalism, fascism and racism, began to envision and commit itself to the cause of peace with rights and freedoms for everyone without any discriminations. That’s when it was decided to establish this specific date, 10 December 1948, for the protection of those people –and all the people of the world to come.
Undeniably, some of those circumstances seem familiar now. It’s 2019 and we live in a world so different and yet so similar. It seems that more and more neo-Nazi and fascist notions and voices of hatred and violence are heard. We should always keep in mind that the protection of every citizen of the world against incitements to violence and racism is not only a personal right but also a pledge for the protection and preservation of Democracy and peaceful co-existence. It concerns all of us.
According to the Ministry of Justice “human rights are universal, apply to all persons and guarantee equal dignity of all people in the enjoyment of their rights and freedoms, without discrimination on grounds such as sex, race, color, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, in accordance with the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols. It is entrusted with the management of judicial function, which is one of the three State functions. \[…\] Τhis initiative includes development of institutional actions that widens and strengthens individual rights and freedoms and empowers the function of the democratic institutions in general.”
The struggle for the protection of human rights isn’t easy and it is never ending, but it’s necessary. According to the Ministry’s announcement “exactly because the fight for the protection of human rights may be perpetual and continues to evolve along with society, along with people, this day will always be prominent to remind us what remains to be done until the ultimate enjoyment of the rights of every individual living in our country, until the final emancipation of society”.
Translation: Niki Saridaki
