By Tendai Chisiri
Audience following the proceedings at the launch
United Nations Zimbabwe launched the Human Rights initiative at a capital hotel in commemoration of the 75 years in existence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the June’s thematic spotlight being on women’s rights.
To commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and what it means for United Natiins going forward, the High Commissioner for Human Rights launched the Human Rights 75 Initiative to commemorate and strengthen a movement for a better world.
Seventy-Five years ago, in response to the atrocities that took
place during World War II, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“This milestone document was drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. It was an expression of humanity’s revival, an international commitment to never allow such horrific acts to take place again and for the first time, through its 30 Articles, it set out fundamental human rights to be universally protected,” said UN at the media engagement on Human Right 75 initiative and launch of the monthly thematic spotlight on women’s rights.
As the title suggests, this instrument is universal – meaning it applies to all people, in all countries around the world without exception.
However, rights violations reverberate across borders and across generations. These can be, must be, collectively overcome. As the world faces challenges, new and ongoing pandemics, conflicts, exploding inequalities, moral bankruptcy, global financial system collapse, racism, climate change – the values, and rights enshrined in the UDHR provide guideposts for our collective actions that do not leave anyone behind.
As a global UN Initiative:
Human Rights 75 seeks to promote universality, honour diversity, strengths, and achievements of the many communities striving to address today’s global challenges. It reminds us that human rights are non-negotiable and we reclaim it as a foundation on which to find solutions to our common challenges.
Human Rights 75 seeks to harness the potential of latest breakthroughs through all means, including technology, and anticipate the challenges that will benefit from their application.
Human Rights 75 – supports engaging and working with Member States and all the relevant actors to build a positive force for change with trust in the human rights architecture, faith in its promise, and resources to apply the tools that are necessary to ensure rights are upheld.
“One of the key objectives of the Human Rights 75 Initiative is to generate pledges that bring about concrete change towards greater enjoyment of human rights, mainly from Governments, but also from other actors, such as parliaments, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, international financial institutions, business, and young people etc,” revealed UN.
These Human Rights 75 pledges are commitments to take a specific action or actions, with the aim of promoting and protecting human rights. The pledge must be transformative, innovative and catalytic, with significant impact on the enjoyment of human rights. All UN Member States have been urged to propose at least one and up to five flagship pledges as part of Human Rights 75.
“In order to trigger one or more flagship pledges, Governments including the Government of Zimbabwe, are encouraged to organise a country dialogue in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to discuss key human rights issues, exchange positive stories and above all discuss what is needed to achieve progress in the area of human rights,” added UN.
To facilitate some of these national dialogues and discussions, the Office of the High Commissioner has proposed monthly thematic spotlights which cover the whole range of human rights. For June, the thematic spotlight is on women’s rights with a focus on the critical importance of women’s and girls’ participation in power and decision-making for achieving gender equality, sustainable development and lasting peace
As is often said, the youth are the backbone of any nation and cognisant of that, the High Commissioner for Human Rights has established a Youth Advisory Group to ensure that the voices of young people and children are heard.
The Youth Advisory Group is comprised of 12 young people from all regions. “And I am pleased to announce that one of our very own here in Zimbabwe – Courteney Mukoyi – is one of 3 African youths selected to sit on this Advisory Group”, the gathering was told.
The UN globally and in Zimbabwe, working with various stakeholders including Government will conduct activities to advance the Human Rights 75 Initiative that will run throughout the year.
All the activities organised under the auspices of the Human Rights 75 Initiative will culminate in a High-Level Event which will take place from 11 to 12 December 2023 at which a pledging event will be conducted and a vision for the next 25 years crafted as a contribution to the 2024’s Secretary General’s Summit of the Future.
The December event will be designed as a hybrid event, allowing physical and virtual participation for all.
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