Human Rights Day, observed on December 10th, commemorates the date on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was enacted in 1948.
On this day, we should be reminded that human rights are fundamental, unalienable, indivisible, interdependent, and linked. True regard for and observance of human rights are essential for peace, democracy, and sustainable development in addition to being crucial for upholding human dignity.
However, this year has seen some of the most severe and widespread assaults on human rights, from Russia’s illegal, unjustified, and aggressive war against Ukraine, which has resulted in and continues to result in incomprehensible human suffering, to serious human rights abuses and violations in Afghanistan, Belarus, Ethiopia, and Myanmar/Burma.
The EU has also addressed the human rights situation in China, the ongoing deadly crackdown on peaceful protestors in Iran, and the rapidly worsening human rights situation in Russia. In many nations, women and girls have been disproportionately affected by violations of human rights and have been the targets of repression and restrictive laws. The right to assemble, to express oneself both online and offline, and to have access to the media are all still seriously threatened. This adds to a long list of global infractions that continue to demand our attention.
The EU will keep track of, draw attention to, and take decisive action in international fora to combat and prevent violations and abuses of human rights, as well as to support global initiatives to hold all offenders accountable.
The EU is utilising a variety of tools under the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 to defend and enhance human rights throughout the world. These include programme and project support under the Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy 2021–2027, the implementation of sanctions on individuals and entities implicated in egregious violations and abuses of human rights, and bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the area of human rights.
The EU stands by and aids civil society groups and those that protect human rights all across the world. In a similar vein, this year’s 24th EU-NGO Human Rights Forum will once again provide a forum for interaction with human rights defenders all over the world. We will talk about how to end impunity, provide access to justice, and ensure that those who violate or abuse human rights will be held accountable.
On Human Rights Day, we pledge to step up our efforts to support and speak up for people who are oppressed and at risk, no matter where they may reside.
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