International Migrants Day, 18 December

dPress release
18 December 2008

The 9th International Migrants Day coincides with the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Many UDHR provisions vividly relate to some of the threats – racism, xenophobia, labour and sexual exploitation, arbitrary detention and other injustices- and hopes – freedom of movement, right to work, to education, to live in dignity - experienced by millions of women, men and children and demonstrate that migrants rights are human rights. This year also marks the 5th year of the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The decades-long gap in the adoption of a treaty and other human rights tools for the protection of migrant workers is about to have particularly dire consequences. For scores of migrants, the world financial crisis will expose their existing vulnerability to stronger hardship and exploitation. It will also result in diminished remittances to those left behind in their home countries. Ironically, while migrants have often been the invisible architects of many striving economies and least benefited from financial investment and related wealth generating products, they will be amongst the worst hit. It is thus essential that civil society actively monitors respect for the Convention, engages with the UN Committee on Migrant Workers and renews the call for universal ratification. But, the fact that major countries of destination did not ratify this convention does not mean that they should not / and cannot be held accountable. Other international instruments do apply to migrant workers and it is up to migrants’ organisations, civil society and the international community to make use of them. (See December 18’s newest publication, “the Samizdat”.) More than ever, International Migration Day (IMD) is an occasion for international solidarity and for making migrants voices heard. December 18 gives a platform to these testimonies via Radio 1812, a global event that brings together a wide range of radio stations that broadcast special programmes on the occasion of IMD. This unique radio marathon enables migrants’ voices to be heard, not only on community-based radio stations but also on large public broadcasts and via our dedicated website. More than 100 radio stations from over 35 countries will participate in this year’s event. December 18 believes that it is wrong to deal with migration as a security issue only. Many governments want to stay out of the limelight and orchestrate policy discussions, for instance within the Global Forum on Migration and Development conveyed outside of the United Nations thereby excluding civil society from the process. Civil society, including NGOs and migrant organisations often are the sole actors delivering assistance and advice to migrants in countries of origin, transit and arrival. Their unique experience would greatly enrich analyses and solutions oriented discussions respectful of a human rights framework. However, the UDHR and other human rights norms and standards evolved since then and have slowly been integrated in some international, regional and national government responses to migration, including, albeit timidly, in some migration management initiatives. More than ever, civil society, migrant and human rights organisations will need to remind governments of their commitments and highlight the relevance of the Preamble of the UDHR which declares that: “[…] recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, […] disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, […] it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, […] it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations.” December continues to work for the respect of the human dignity and the fundamental human rights of all migrant workers and their families.-->
Learn more about International Migrants Day.

Link,http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=2&language_id=1&headline_id=8409, consultado a 18 de Dezembro de 2008.

World Humanitarian Day : 19th August

"We should never forget all the victims, not only in Baghdad and Algiers, who have given their lives for the United Nations," Annie Vieira de Mello, Aug 19, 2008, Reuters.

The General Assembly designates 19th August as World Humanitarian Day / Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

General AssemblyGA/10798 / 11 December 2008


OCHA News Centre
12 December 2008

The General Assembly decided today to designate 19 August as World Humanitarian Day. The resolution adopted by consensus and sponsored by Sweden reaffirms the United Nations’ unique role in humanitarian emergencies. It calls for increased public awareness about humanitarian assistance activities worldwide and the importance of international cooperation in this regard. It also pays tribute to all humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause and those who have lost their lives in the cause of duty.
Adopting another resolution by consensus, the General Assembly expressed deep concern that, over the past decade, threats and attacks against the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel have escalated dramatically and that perpetrators of acts of violence seemingly operate with impunity. In the resolution sponsored by France on behalf of the European Union, the General Assembly also emphasized the need to pay particular attention to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who are particularly vulnerable to attacks and who account for the majority of casualties and cases of harassment.
Read the General Assembly coverage

Link,http://ochaonline.un.org/News/tabid/1080/Default.aspx, consultado a 15 de Dezembro de 2008.

The People’s Movement for Human Rights Educación (PDHRE) | Movimiento de los Pueblos para la Educación en Derechos Humanos

español
in English

A Brief Introduction To Our Thinking
More than any other moral language available at this time in history, the language of human rights is able to expose "the immorality and ...barbarism of the modern face of power... We cannot take rights seriously without taking suffering seriously..." (- Upendra Baxi, Human Rights and Inhuman Wrongs) Poverty, warfare, environmental degradation, the deleterious effects of globalization, discrimination, disease, illiteracy, and labor exploitation are just some of the threats bearing down on our right to be human — to live in security and dignity.Yet, every one of the horrors and threats confronting humanity today could be fought on the grounds of its being in violation of the human rights declared in the Universal Declaration of 1948. The rights set down in this and other international covenants, declarations, and conventions create a space from which a multitude of struggles to improve the welfare of individuals and communities around the world can spring.We therefore seek to provide a framework for serious global debate among groups working for social and economic justice, and their constituencies, who may not yet have identified their experiences and goals with the rights stated in international human rights documents and the enunciations of the major UN-sponsored world conferences. We also seek to engage human rights-identified organizations in the just and balanced promotion of economic, social, and cultural rights along with civil and political rights. (...).

Link,http://www.pdhre.org/about.html

, consultado a 13 de Dezembro de 2008.

Manual "Understanding Human Rights"

The manual "Understanding Human Rights" has been translated to many languages, which we would like to present here. Please note that all translations published before 2007 were based on the first and original edition of the English version, published in May 2003. (...).

Link,http://www.etc-graz.at/typo3/index.php?id=16, consultado a 12 de Dezembro de 2008.

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

International Human Rights Day

10 December 2008

"This year's International Human Rights Day is of special significance as it marks the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which represented the first step in establishing a comprehensive international framework for the protection of human rights. Today the Universal Declaration is one of the fundamental texts establishing respect for human rights as a guiding principle in international relations. The year 2008 also witnesses the 15th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action proclaimed by the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights as well as the 10th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

President José Manuel Barroso declared: “I am always struck by the truly revolutionary nature of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which courageously stated in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War that “inherent dignity” and “the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family” were the foundations of freedom, justice and peace. Sixty years on and against the background of the continuing critical human rights situation in many countries, the Declaration remains as pertinent as ever.”

Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “Sixty years after the proclamation of the Universal Declaration it is widely accepted as part of customary international law – testimony to the genuinely universal nature of the rights it enshrines. But much more still needs to be done to make every citizen – women and men –aware of the impact of this declaration, so that its full potential as an empowerment tool for human rights defenders and promoters of human security around the globe will be enforced.Today’s celebrations belong to all men and women who dedicate their lives to defending and upholding human rights worldwide I strongly affirm that the European Union continues to be on their side and is fully determined to contribute to promoting and protecting human rights as an integral part of its external policies”.

Vice-President Jacques Barrot added: “Behind the European project there is a joint endeavour to the strengthening of pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men in our societies. The EU is not complacent with its own human rights record. The protection of human rights requires a constant effort to extend and update our legislative and policy initiatives in areas such as the fight against racism, xenophobia and all types of discrimination. This is our contribution to implementing every day the Declaration. ”

Background:
Human rights lie at the heart of the EU’s external relations and development policy, as it is underlined by the engagement of the EU in a worldwide campaign against the death penalty, by the key role played by the EU in the fight against torture as well as by the promotion of universality of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Within the framework of the EU’s human rights policy in third countries, the Commission is committed to advancing the situation of human rights worldwide through various tools, such as participation in EU human rights dialogues and consultations as well as in political dialogues with the authorities of third countries at different levels. Moreover, Commission Delegations regularly report on the human rights situation in third countries. Finally, through the European Instrument on Democracy and Human Rights - EIDHR , the Commission funds NGOs worldwide working to promote human rights, in areas such as the fight against the death penalty, torture, the support to human rights defenders and to grassroots organisations.
The European Commission fully supports the campaign launched by the UN Secretary-General in the framework of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration under the theme “Dignity and Justice for All of Us”. In this context, in cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Regional Information Office for Western Europe, the Commission supported the production of 22 short movies on human rights directed by well known film-makers from different regions of the world. The screening of these films is part of the European Union’s official ceremonies organised by the French Presidency taking place in Paris on 10 December, but also of a number of cultural and raising awareness events promoted locally by Delegations of the European Commission in third countries. As a further initiative to commemorate the 60th anniversary, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the United Nations organised in Brussels on 7-8 October 2008 the international conference“60th Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The Defenders take the Floor”. "

Fonte: The EU's Human rights & Democratisation Policy:
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/human_rights/intro/index.htm

Link,http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1912&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en , consultado a 9 de Dezembro de 2008.