Int'l Human Rights Day 2015 to be commemorated under theme of “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always"

10 Dec 2015

Int'l Human Rights Day 2015 to be commemorated under theme of “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always"

Today is International Human Rights Day. International Human Rights Day is observed yearly on 10 December to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign marking the 50th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of two international covenants: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Somalia is a state party to these covenants. Together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights they form the International Bill of Human Rights, which sets out the political, civil, cultural, economic and social rights that are the birthright of all human beings. The two Covenants are also a means for people to hold their governments to account for respecting and upholding civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

This year’s theme, “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always”, aims to promote and raise awareness of the two covenants and launches a year-long campaign ahead of the 50th anniversary on 16 December 2016. The year-long campaign revolves around the theme of rights and freedoms – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear -- which underpins the International Bill of Human Rights.

“This year’s International Human Rights Day comes at a particularly important time for Somalia as the Somali people conclude a series of nationwide consultations and decide on the most appropriate and inclusive electoral model and prepare to elect a new government in 2016,” said the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay. “I encourage the people of Somalia and their leaders to pursue these efforts, which will help to guarantee the freedoms that are envisaged by these international covenants and enshrined in Somalia’s Provisional Constitution.”

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is supporting federal and state-level governments, and civil society organizations to mark this day in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Kismaayo and Baidoa. Through its Human Rights and Protection Group, the Mission is supporting the government to strengthen its human rights protection system and ensure the promotion of and respect for human rights throughout Somalia.