Today marks the 56th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Activities around the world remind us of the universality of human rights – the basic, fundamental rights every person is entitled to without discrimination. It is an opportunity to celebrate progress, thank those who work to protect the most vulnerable, and to assess areas of concern.
In Sudan this includes a wide range of individuals. Some have official titles bearing the word “human rights” like the National Human Rights Commissioners; members of the government’s Human Rights Advisory Council or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Human Rights, Women and Child Affairs; members of UNAMID’s Human Rights Office or the UN’s Independent Expert for Human Rights in the Sudan. Others hold no such grand positions but are working tirelessly to promote and defend rights. This is happening every day from the national level right down to activities in local communities. Everyone has a role to play.
This year saw the passing of the veteran human rights defender Osman Hummaida who worked tirelessly promoting human rights and justice in Sudan for more than 25 years. His work was not always welcomed by government and he spent long periods of his career in detention. Despite the challenges involved there are countless individuals in Sudan who continue to take on this struggle. Some of those individuals are currently in detention themselves.
The ideals adopted in Paris 56 years ago today are not UK values but universal ones. The Declaration of Human Rights is a document that speaks to everyone across the world regardless of religious or ethnic background. It is believed to be the most translated document in the world. Aside from English and Arabic, it is available in at least six of the Nilotic languages native to South Sudan spoken by many inhabitants of this country.
Everyone should be able to understand the rights the Declaration teaches us about:
- Universal rights such as freedom of religious belief. The right of an individual to hold and practice their beliefs, and the right not to practice something they do not believe in, free from fear of persecution.
- Universal rights such as freedom of expression. The right to the freedom of expression, reception and dissemination of information, including the publication of and access to the press.
- Universal rights such as freedom of assembly and association. That every person shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of their interests.
This isn’t just what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says. This is language taken from Sudan’s interim constitution of 2005. A document which not only confirms this country’s intention to adhere to its international obligations, but also details Sudan’s very own bill of rights.
Human rights are an essential element of the UK’s policy and engagement with Sudan and they are factored into all elements of our embassy’s work. Not just because the UK believes in these universal values, but because we also believe that respect for human rights is essential to reduce conflict and foster stability and prosperity.
As a government we do not shy away from saying when we think these universal standards are not being met. Our most recent human rights report assessed that the situation for human rights in Sudan had deteriorated. There are many victims of human rights abuse in this country, particularly in areas of conflict. We are working with partners to help end conflict and to ensure greater respect of human rights for all. We believe that the Sudanese people should be able to enjoy the rights their own Constitution gives them and that those rights are a necessary foundation for stable and prosperous growth.
On this International Human Rights Day I call on the Government of Sudan to uphold the bold values they signed up to in 2005 and embrace them not only as universal values but as the values of the Sudanese people.
