Human Rights Day is Every Day
December 10, 2023
Human Rights are a casualty in every war. Amid the horrors caused by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, Ukrainians continue their dedicated work tirelessly and with resilience.
Today is Human Rights Day. This year’s anniversary marks 75 years since the adoption Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948.
The Declaration defines the basic rights and freedoms that all human beings are entitled to, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, religion, or other similar characteristics. Born out of the horrors of the Second World War, out of ‘disregard and contempt for human rights’, the UDHR served as a beacon of hope for people all around the world, and still does today. It recognises the equal worth of every person and that violations of human rights anywhere concern all of us everywhere.
Since 1948, the 30 articles of the Declaration have sparked transformations in all areas and spheres of our lives.
Protecting human rights is at the heart of the European Union. The EU is founded on a shared determination to promote peace and stability and to build a world founded on respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
The EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine will stand with Ukraine in its further struggle for a free and democratic society, based on respect of human rights and the principle of equality and we will accompany Ukraine on its journey towards EU-membership, says on Human Rights Day the Head of Mission, Rolf Holmboe, recalling how these principles underpin all aspects of the internal and external policies of the European Union and are also key aspects in the work of EUAM-Ukraine on advising and supporting the Ukrainian Security sector actors.
On Human Rights Day, EUAM Ukraine’s Senior Adviser on Human Rights Katri Linna, stressed how humbled and admiring she feels about Ukrainian Human Rights Civil Society Organisations continue working throughout this war and, in fact, intensifying their important work.
As every year, Human Rights Day also marks the conclusion of the #16Days of Activism against gender-based violence international campaign.
