Ghanaian students read UN Human Rights statement

The United Nations General Assembly has set aside December 10 each year as the day to celebrate Human Rights Day across the world.

The day is set aside to commemorate the day the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

That Declaration forms the backbone of the human rights architecture of our societies, where each of us – without discrimination – has the right to live and thrive in peace and safety.

This year's celebrations which was held under the theme, 'Youth Standing Up For Human Rights’  was marked at Kaneshie Kingsway Cluster of Schools in Accra under the auspices of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative-CHRI Africa Office, Ghana.

Students from the Kaneshie Kingsway Cluster of Schools read the Statement from the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights

Speaking at the sensitisation event to pupils of the school the Head of CHRI Africa Ms Mina Mensah aid to ensure rights are respected and not abused, the youth should be aware of the liberties they have and be encouraged to know by studying about human rights.

This she said would help ascertain when their fundamental human rights are infringed upon at any given time.

The office also made a donation of text books to the school's library to foster the teaching and learning of pupils to do well at their terminal and final basic education examinations.

Since its adoption, laws and, policies embracing human rights have made us freer. Children can assert their needs, women can make their own choices, persons with disabilities can live more independently, and we all enjoy safeguards against tyranny and abuse.

“As you read this message, there are people trapped in conflict zones; men, women and children who die while seeking our protection; people who are left at the margin of society and discriminated; people who continue to be repressed, beaten or killed because they seek the truth or just express themselves,” she said.

She said there were also people who were still locked-up in their disability, or who were trafficked and exploited.

“But none of this is inevitable and we all have a crucial role to play, no matter how small.

“This Human Rights Day, consider how essential human rights are for each person and let’s use them every day as our compass to seek justice, equality, peace and freedom for all,” she said.