Today we are marking International Human Rights Day and ending our 16 day campaign of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV). This year’s theme for International Human Rights Day focuses on inclusion and the right to participate in public life.
‘My voice counts’ is the motto for the day. It is a very current concern – in the recent past the “Arab spring” phenomenon provides several examples of publics yearning to be heard by their governments and of the negative fallout when that does not happen.
With the advent of social media and related technologies, the barriers between government and citizens are constantly eroding. More and more citizens know their rights and demand these should be respected. Many – including women, youth, minorities, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, the poor and marginalized – are taking the view that ‘what I say matters!’
Nowadays they expect governments to act upon their concerns and involve them in decision-making, even on political issues which cannot simply be dealt with by elites. The read-across to GBV, which directly undermines women’s participation in public life, is all too clear.
Human Rights Day presents an annual opportunity to celebrate human rights. We get to reflect on past events; acknowledge how far we have come; and look forward to what more needs to be done. We need to do much more, for example, to create awareness among citizens around the world about their rights, which are universal and apply to all categories of people.
We need open exchanges of ideas about rights and how to embed them in order to establish sustainable, strong and stable societies. And we need everyone to know that their voice counts and that they have an important role to play in public life.