Today marks human rights day
Today marks human rights day, a day that celebrates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and what it means to all of us. But it should be a cause for celebration every day.
The Declaration sets out the rights that everyone is entitled to, no matter who they are, whatever their differences. Together with the international human rights treaties and the EU Charter, it created better access to justice, social protection, economic opportunities and political participation for millions of people across the EU.
Today, all UN Member States subscribe to the Declaration. But even so, governments within and beyond the EU, often sidestep or roll back on their human rights commitments, undermining many decades of progress.
Racism, discrimination and intolerance are common in many societies within the EU, as many FRA surveys show. Attacks on free speech continue and civil society face a range of difficulties trying to advance rights, as FRA work shows.
To deliver our rights, we need to apply the Charter. That is why we need to stand up for our rights and those of others.
We must pass on the message that equality, justice and freedom empower us all, prevent violence and sustain peace. That message should not be just for human rights day. In that sense, we should ensure that we make every day, human rights day.