• Dec 10, 2018
• Dar es Salaam
• By LHRC

Commemoration of 70 Years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Stand Up for Human Rights

11:55 AM - 11:55 PM

The international community observes Human Rights Day every year on 10 December. The day is commeorated since 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nations.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights shapes the way the world looks at human rights. It defines universal values and principles that need to be observed by individuals and authorities in the protection and promotion of people’s entitlements. Commemoration of human rights day to LHRC means more than creating awareness to the public and call for action but cherishing values brought by the declaration.   

In Tanzania, human rights values started to be enshrined since 1984 after the bill of rights was included in the Constitution. After the inclusion of the bill of rights in its constitution and later adoption of the multiparty system, various civic groups emerged in numbers to advocate for protection and promotion of human rights in Tanzania, the government’s Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance was later introduced to oversee human rights issues in the country. Bill of rights to some extent reflected human rights values as provided by in declaration of human rights although some of the rights were not included.

Back in early 1990’s people could not dare to even mention the word human rights let alone claim for their rights but due to increased awareness on the same currently, even students can boycott food in schools as a way to demand their rights. The term Human Rights has become a household name and LHRC is glad that people at least understand that they have entitlements as human beings. However, not everybody is aware and if aware not everyone is playing his/her role in the protection and promotion of rights.

Therefore commemoration of human rights day is another big opportunity for LHRC to keep emphasizing and sensitizing Tanzanians to respect, protect and promote human rights which entails standing for human rights as the 70 years commemoration theme suggests.

#StandUp4HumanRights