Human Rights marks 75 Years

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

December 15, 2023 – Freedom of expression, the right to life and liberty, and freedom from slavery and torture are only some of the 30 basic rights assigned to every human at birth. The comprehensive international protections are part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This year, countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UDHR which not only bestows fundamental rights on all human beings but binds countries to recognize and provide country-level laws that do the same.

As the charter is celebrated, there are multiple ongoing human rights crises globally, the mass killing of children in Gaza resulting from the Israeli-Hamas war, the ongoing war in the Congo between rogue states, the humanitarian crises in Haiti resulting from gang warfare, the Russian invasion in Ukraine, and the rising food insecurity in multiple African countries resulting in starvation for thousands are only a few.

“On this day and throughout the week, we acknowledge and reaffirm that all people are born equally, with inherent dignity, and inalienable rights. Let us work together to make this the focal point of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” says the Turks and Caicos Human Rights Commission.

The December 10 celebration highlighted acceptance of the 1948 charter which was drafted by a UN committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, then-First Lady of the United States alongside delegates from Canada, China, Lebanon, France, the Soviet Union, and others.

It was born out of global disgust and dismay following the revelation of the atrocities committed during World War II especially in, but not limited to Nazi Germany.

During the celebration the UN is particularly focused on promoting universality, forging the future, and supporting engagement to work with Member States and all the relevant actors to build a positive force for change with trust in the human rights architecture.