International Human Rights Day
Global communication this year has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 67 million cases have been reported to date and the social and humane implications are multifarious. The International Human Rights Day on December 10 gives human rights a voice during this unprecedented crisis. Since the United General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948 we dedicate this day to the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) the United Nations establishes rights which apply to every human everywhere regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. A declaration regardless of these factors is aimed to eliminate discrimination, inequality, and to support peace on earth. The declaration, initially voted for by 48 UN members, is today the most translated document in the world with more than 500 languages available and signed by all 192 UN members. The UDHR is at its core more an agreement than a legally binding document, but even as such it gives individuals a foundation for appeal for the protection of their recognized human rights.
Human Rights, Refugee Education, One Digital World
Article 26 of the UDHR gives humans the right to education. The article's first paragraph proclaims that elementary education "shall be free and compulsory, technical and professional education shall be generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit". These constitutions are often hard enough to provide even in a stable political environment. It becomes even harder to deliver the human right to education after individuals have been forcibly displaced from their home country. Between safety issues, hunger, and poverty, education often falls behind. How are forcibly displaced individuals then going to achieve the better life they started their journey for in the first place? One Digital World believes that to achieve successful integration after resettlement, refugees need to be provided access to important information available on the internet, as well as necessary general, language and cultural education.
In the second and third paragraph of Article 26 the declaration calls for education that is "directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace." Furthermore, "parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children." At One Digital World we dedicate every day to the realization of these human rights. In early 2021 ODW will open a computer lab classroom in Tijuana, Mexico taking another step towards a more educated and empowered world where human rights are recognized and respected.
Human Rights Day 2020
In 2020 the day is celebrated under the theme Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights. This year’s theme and program relate closely to the COVID-19 pandemic and focus on what needs to be done to protect and further enforce human rights during and after the pandemic. This year exposed many failures and sore spots, not only for human rights, but for a variety of social questions. December 10 is an opportunity to rethink global responsibilities and "apply human rights standards to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination".
