Appealing to the Essence

Human Rights Day Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif

On this year’s Human Rights Day, let us reflect on the spirit and letter of human rights in their most authentic form: the essence – our conscience. 

Firstly, education is the very foundation for claiming one’s human rights. Tyranny frequently targets schools, universities, and even girls, to keep them under the yoke of oppression. Where books are burnt and schools are destroyed, this is an attack on the right to education. Where a segment of the population is not allowed to read, write or learn about their identity or culture, nor to exercise critical thinking, this is a denial of education. These illegal acts are geared at deepening the destruction of the human potential to achieve human rights and freedoms. 

Secondly, while human rights today are enshrined in laws and conventions, the nurturing of the essence of human rights starts at home and through early childhood education onwards. It is, therefore, incumbent on every parent, caretaker, pre-school teacher and teacher to inspire the values of human rights. This entails tolerance and respect for all peoples and cultures, for all religions and races, and for justice and the rule of law. A most significant sign of lacking such quality education eventually leads to intolerance, supremacy and selectivity – the biggest obstacles to realize human rights for all. 

Thirdly, human rights are universal. Human rights are both inherent rights and stipulated law, for every human being on earth. Thus, we cannot pick and choose human rights for some, but not for others; international law for some, but not for others; humanity for some, but not for others. Neither the essence of human rights, nor human rights law, supports such a biased and subjective approach to human rights. 

In this regard, Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: 

“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social, property, birth or other status.” 

Indeed, the moment we lose sight of this foundational article on human rights, we cannot claim to be on the side of human rights. Article 2 is key to realizing the spirit and letter of human rights in its most authentic and conscience way.

Finally, the quest for human rights for all is everyone’s responsibility. It is our assignment to ensure that human rights are integrated in our daily lives. It is especially important for political leaders who can chose to inspire and stand up for human rights, deny human rights or just remain a bystander to violations of human rights.  

Eleanor Roosevelt, the inspiring driving force behind the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, said: 

“Sometimes I wonder if we shall ever grow up in our politics and say definitive things which mean something, or whether we shall always go on using generalities to which everyone can subscribe, and which mean little. When will our conscience grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery, rather than avenge it.” 

I do believe that not until the day human rights become an integral part of our conscience, not until the day our values are firmly imprinted in our hearts and souls from an early age and during our most formative years, we will keep avenging human suffering, if not also causing it. 

Let Human Rights Day be a day of reflection. Human rights for all hinge on our honest reflection: our conscience.