GUNSA condemns slave trade in Libya—calls on international community to act

The Ghana United Nations Students and Youth Association (GUNSA) has condemned the alleged slave trade of some Africans in Libya.

According to the union, the practice is not only barbaric, heinous and unacceptable, it is also a gross violation of the human rights of the affected persons.

They have, therefore, called on the international community to strictly be guided by the recently adopted measures at the Africa-European Summit in Cote d’Ivoire, including the Voluntary Repatriation measures as well as stiffer UN Sanctions to halt the practice.

The group made this known in a statement issued on Sunday to commemorate this year’s International Human Rights Day (IHRD).

The 2017 IHRD is on the theme: “Our rights, our freedoms. Always”.

World leaders on December 10, 1948, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR as part of measures to uphold and protect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all persons including the rights and freedoms to free speech, safety, food, and shelter.

Below is the full statement

PRESS RELEASE

STATEMENT BY THE GHANA UNITED NATIONS STUDENTS AND YOUTH ASSOCIATION (GUNSA) ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2017

Sixty-Nine years ago today, 10th December, 1948, world leaders met and agreed to one of the most important documents that has guided humanity and protected their dignity; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Pertinent as the content of the declaration is, it draws the world’s attention to the need to uphold and protect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all persons including the rights and freedoms to free speech, safety, food, and shelter.

While applauding the United Nations for the choice of an apt theme, which is “Our rights, our freedoms. Always”, GUNSA as an association of youth and students who firmly believe in the aspirations of the United Nations wishes to use this auspicious occasion to draw the attention of the international community over what we consider neglected obligations in some parts of the world which constitutes gross abuse of the rights and freedoms of humans.

Of particular concern to us has been appalling treatment meted out to the Rohingya people in Myanmar, rendering close to one million of them refugees in neighbouring Bangladesh. Culturally, the Rohingya have a right to belong to any ethic group of their choice and this must be respected. We call on the UN and the Myanmar government to find an amicable resolution of the issues to enable a peaceful repatriation of the displaced people.

GUNSA also wishes to use the opportunity afforded by this day to condemn in no uncertain terms, the news about the sale of Africans as slaves in Libya. The practice is not only barbaric, heinous and unacceptable, it is also a gross violation of the human rights of the affected persons and we call on the international community to strictly be guided by the recently adopted measures at the Africa-European Summit in Cote d’Ivoire including the Voluntary Repatriation measures as well as stiffer UN Sanctions to halt the practice.

One of the rights espoused by the UN is the Right to safety and freedom from fear. It is in this vein that we in GUNSA condemns the untoward sufferings that millions of children, women and the aged have been subjected to in Yemen over the last half decade which has resulted in rampant deaths, outbreak of diseases and famine. We urge all interested parties in the conflict to ceasefire, allow the delivery of humanitarian support services and above all, respect the fundamental human rights, dignity and freedoms of the vulnerable in war-torn Yemen.

On the local front, we wish to urge government to double-up efforts to improve conditions at the country’s prisons, cells, hospitals and schools, particularly the boarding institutions as student population increases because of the Free Senior High School Programme, a laudable initiative by government. This when done will further dignify the human status of users of the said facilities.

As we mark this year’s International Human Rights Day, we also advocate greater education and public awareness creation on the dangers of mob justice and sexual abuse against children. We enjoin government to scale-up the implementation of policies and programmes that will enhance and guarantee the Economic Rights of citizens in particular, and all other people in general.

We are all of one creation and must therefore avoid human rights violations.

Issued in Accra, December 10, 2017.

For Enquiries:
Emmanuel J.K Arthur,
Communications Directorate,
00233-244-669-709