The struggle to defend human rights is continuous and difficult

 

AKEL on Human Rights Day

10 December 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Seventy-four years ago today, giving concrete content to the commitment of the states that signed the UN Charter to protect “the fundamental human rights, the dignity and status of every human being, the equal rights of men and women”, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A gain that was to be the international community’s leading response to the atrocities that marked the modern history of humanity, to the two world wars, to the criminal ideological concepts of Nazism-Fascism that took the lives of millions of people, that forced people become refugees and to misery because they had different beliefs, religions, origins and different sexual orientations.

Today, seventy-four years onwards, having achieved recognition of the equal protection and respect for all human rights, political, social, economic and cultural, through the adoption of the Universal Declaration and the multitude of international conventions, constitutional adaptations and legislative initiatives that subsequently followed it, humanity unfortunately continues to fall short in its practical protection.

Everyone is entitled to invoke all rights and freedoms without any discrimination whatsoever, but there are still too many people who experience daily the consequences of political and institutional weaknesses, petty intolerant racist ideological concepts, economic approaches, the subordination of sustainable development to serve economic interests and the tolerance shown towards the use of violence in international relations.

Behind the robust economic indicators, unfortunately, lies the ever growing undermining of the right to housing, access to dignified and secure employment, public education, equal access to essential goods and health care. Behind the public proclamations on combating discrimination lies the lukewarm and almost non-existent reaction to racist discourse, hate speech, xenophobia, homophobia and misogyny.

Unfortunately, they are often fostered through government policies, but also through the public discourse of state officials and elected politicians hidden behind the immunities granted to them.

Defending the human rights of all is an ongoing and difficult struggle. But it presupposes a consistent and prudent stand, respect for citizens, but also for every person in our country; regardless of their origin, language, religion, beliefs, gender and sexual orientation.

AKEL stresses that it will continue to work for a qualatively advanced society, with a commitment to solidarity, social equality, justice, individual and collective freedom. Values that are indispensable in a homeland that is struggling to restore the basic freedoms and human rights of all its people, that asserts not only to liberate and reunite its land and people, but also to build peace.