A time to call for a national agreement on Universal Human Rights

Today, 10 December, is International Human Rights Day. Worldwide defenders of human rights have marked this day annually since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by the United Nations on 10 December 1948.

The Declaration begins by stating the enormous significance of its vision: “[The] 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”. The Declaration guarantees the equality in dignity and rights of all persons, irrespective of race, colour, religion, origin, opinion, sexuality, gender and physical ability.

Being a Maltese non-governmental organisation dedicated to the recognition and advancement of all human rights for all persons, aditus foundation calls upon every person reading this message today to remember and commemorate in some way the on-going international struggle for human rights. In Malta, this could be a moment taken to acknowledge the enjoyment of human rights conferred through, for example, citizenship, employment, education, freedom, the enjoyment of life during peacetime or, simply, a sense of belonging.

“As part of its mission to report on and redress human rights abuses, aditus foundation hopes to inspire the agreement and cooperation of the Maltese public, government and media in the crucial arena of human rights,” Dr. Neil Falzon (aditus foundation Director).

An insistence upon the rights of every one of our fellow human beings is especially powerful when it is voiced by the most fortunate among us, in reiteration of Malta’s commitment to ensuring the full and effective respect for, protection and fulfillment of the fundamental human rights of all persons.