HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2023
AFRICAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (AWLA) joins the United Nations to mark the 75th anniversary of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ( UDHR). Aftermath of the turbulent era of the second world and in a desperate and urgent need to ensure the atrocities committed during the war were not repeated, Nations came together to seek to protect and advance human rights via a document known as the UDHR.
This was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. UDHR encapsulates the common standard that every country and person should strive for in terms of human rights.
It’s the document that gave hope and power to every human being living on planet earth. But for this document, human life was just as fleeting as animal life.
The Human Rights Day is celebrated globally on December 10 every year focusing on the fundamental rights and liberties of people and advocates for the rights that transcend nationality, gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality, religion, or any other distinctions.
The theme to celebrate Human Rights Day 2023 is ‘Freedom, Equality and Justice for All.’
It empowered individuals to stand up for their rights, challenge injustice and voice their concerns.
This document is a testimony of our shared humanity. We can envision a future where freedom, peace, equality and justice rules.
According to UN Secretary – General Antonio Guterres,
“The UDHR shows the way to common values and approaches that can help resolve tensions and create the security and stability our world craves ”
The UDHR and the Vienna Declaration has become beacons of inspiration and hope for all and sundry. They’re documents that mandates every nation to put legal structures in place to ensure that every person can live in peace and dignity.
Every Constitution enshrines human rights and structures to implement them. Unfortunately the frustrating elements at implementation are always there but surmountable by governments who are sincere and committed to protecting and advancing these rights.
It is worthy of note that brave men and women stood up, when oppressed they arose, together they fought for greater justice, respect and compassion. They had a dream for a better future.
However in spite of all the advocacy and struggle for justice, the oppressors are waxing stronger weaponizing poverty. Can human dignity be intact in the face of poverty???
Can we remain resolute to stand up for our rights in the face of dangling apples and dollars and divide and rule syndrome ???
Be reminded that these dangling apples and dollars can only solve an immediate or few problems leaving you with a myriad of problems to face up to your 4th generation if you don’t shun the ephemeral benefit for eternal benefit. The poverty weaponizers call you “riff raffs” that can be bought for a price to wrap you around their fingers.
Dare to dream for a better and safe future for you and your children and shun stomach infrastructure. We are at a turning point where you have a choice to make, to swim or sink?
The sordid state of the nation and the global space is worrisome as the world is becoming increasingly complacent in the face of the mega injustice perpetrated by the ruling class on the citizenry.
Where policies are anti people and people are dying daily and little or no urgent intervention in sight.
It has become a case of survival of the fittest. Right to life, right to human dignity , right to political liberty, right to decent job and decent pay, right to freedom of expression, right to freedom of movement, right to freedom from discrimination, right to quality education and practically all the right are violated daily.
In the prevailing circumstance do people still have freedom of movement? When your whole month salary cannot fuel your car for a week.
Cannot feed your family for a week, is your right to life not trampled?
Where over 30% are unemployed and are not sure of the next meal : these are subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment and can be locked up in Correctional facilities for taking a loaf of bread or sachet of pure water? But the mega corrupt Officers can settle for plea bargain and have no prison sentence nor detention.
These are victims of society who ought to be compensated for having failed them as a nation.
On this premise AWLA Advocates for release of all inmates in detention for minor offences bordering on survival instincts.
The ripple effects : for the hustlers to survive anyhow, by whatever means legal or illegal, insecurity of lives and properties, frustration, sickness and death. We are practically back to a state where life is Nasty, brutish and Short according to Thomas Hobbes:
“Man’s life was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
Hobbes inferred that people are naturally selfish and evil and in the current situation in Nigeria particularly, one cannot but fear such a state.
We cannot afford to be silent at this time. There is no better time for advocacy than now.
Let your little light Shine!
Let your voice be heard!
There will be light at the end of the tunnel if you choose to swim and weather the storm. Refuse to keep silent in the face of human rights abuse, don’t settle for less, refuse to sink, don’t give up.
Don’t allow yourself to be used to perpetrate and perpetuate grave and lasting injustice on the people. Don’t sell your birthright for a pot of porridge.
Be the leader you’re looking for, stand up for Human Rights
You, We, Together
Speak up, Stand up, Roll of the Barriers and make the world a better place.
A luta continua : vitória é certa”, (The struggle continues; victory is sure).
Let’s join hands to make the world a better place for all.
AWLA IS POISED TO END INDIGNITY TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Mandy Demechi-Asagba
President
African Women Lawyers Association
(AWLA)
10/12/2023
awlainternational@gmail.com
awlanigeria2015@gmail.com
