International Human Rights Day being observed today

ISLAMABAD: International Human Rights Day is celebrated every December 10. The day marks the significance of the anniversary of the UDHR’s approval by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

The theme this year is “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now,” as a call to action for governments worldwide to ensure that human rights will be at the forefront. Thus, on International Human Rights Day, in particular, celebrations around the world call for respect, protection, and realization of human rights.

The UDHR at its core expresses the basic rights and freedoms that every individual possesses by virtue of being a human being, without any distinction. It inspired the creation of over 60 human rights tools and, accordingly, constitutes an international norm of human rights.

President and PM’s Message

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have called upon the international community to put concrete measures into practice to end gross violations of human rights of people in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, an Indian-occupied territory.

In their separate International Human Rights messages of the day, they condemned the Israeli ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories, as well as atrocities committed by the Indian armed forces in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The President reiterated that the basic rights of all citizens are guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan, which is resolute in continuing its race for better promotion of human rights in empowering its citizens. He expressed belief in the interdependence of democracy, peace, freedom, and human rights and said that the promotion of people’s rights was vital in the nation-building process.

Likewise, the Prime Minister pointed out that their sacred religion, Islam, enjoins human beings to live up to the principles of human values. He also mentioned that the Government of Pakistan has admitted to implementing various legislative measures to strengthen the protection of human rights.