Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on 10 December by UN, after adopting the universal declaration of human rights in 1948.
This year will be the 70th anniversary of human rights day which it’s document is a major achievement that announced the undeniable rights of human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is the most translated document in the world which is available in more than 500 languages.
Millions of people go to the street On Human Rights Day and; use the internet, instant messaging in order to inspire supporters to seek their initial rights. Social Media has been the most effective tool and it helps activist organize protests in cities across the globe. On this day awards for the United Nations Prize in the field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are also given.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all. The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948. We need to stand up for our own rights and those of others. We can take action in our own daily lives, to uphold the rights that protect us all and thereby promote the kinship of all human beings.
What are human rights?
Whenever we talk about human rights we mean basic rights and freedom for every person who live on the earth, from birth until death and it doesn’t matter where are you from, what are you believe in or how do want to live your life. They can never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted for example if a person breaks the law, or in the interests of national security.
These basic rights are based on shared values like fairness, equality, respect and independence. These values are defined and protected by law. In Britain our human rights are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998.
Why are human rights important?
Human rights show people how to live with dignity and give them the right to choose their living style without limitation, how they express themselves, and what kind of government they want to support, among many other things. Human rights also guarantee people the means necessary to satisfy their basic demands, such as food, housing, and education, so they can take full advantage of all opportunities. Finally, by guaranteeing life, liberty, and security, human rights protect people against abuse by those who are more powerful. This is a why human rights are important in our life and people need to know their rights.
How do human rights help you?
Human rights are related to all of us, not just those who face oppression or violation. They protect you in many areas of your daily life, including:
1. Everybody has a right to express his own opinion
2. education is for every one not for specific people
3. private and family life is for every one
4. nobody has to be mistreated or wrongly punished by the officials
Human rights and the environment relationship
Recently the relationship between human rights and environment has become so close. The link between the two emphasises that a decent physical environment is essential for living a life with dignity and respect. Additionally, a decent physical environment has to do with protection against, for example, noise nuisance, air pollution, and pollution of surface waters and the dumping of toxic substances.
Environmental degradation and human rights was first placed on the international agenda in 1972, at the UN Conference on the Human Environment. Principle 1 of the ‘Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment’ establishes a foundation for linking human rights and environmental protection, declaring that man has a ‘fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations’. As a result of the 1972 Conference, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was set up.
Pollution is the reason for 2 million deaths and billions of diseases annually. All around the world, people experience the negative effects of environmental degradation ecosystems decline, including water shortage, fisheries reduction, natural disasters due to deforestation and unsafe management and disposal of toxic and dangerous wastes and products. Indigenous peoples suffer directly from the degradation of the ecosystems that they rely upon for their livelihoods.
Climate change is intensifying many of these negative effects of environmental degradation on human health and wellbeing and is also causing new ones, including an increase in extreme weather events and an increase in spread of malaria and other vector borne diseases.
These facts clearly show the close relationship between the environment and the enjoyment of human rights, and justify an integrated approach to environment and human rights.
As we mention before, environment is extremely important in our life, that’s why united nation emphasized on it frequently and declared it as a major issue that we need to consider as a crucial part of our life. We need to respect to its right because the effects of it will be vital for our future. We need more laws to protect our environment as human rights forced us to do so and we expect the environmental issues will be taken seriously because as it is obvious, having a healthy nature is essential for ourselves and our offspring as human rights.
France
Alice Hooffmans
2024-11-30
Does the EU have a right to a healthy environment?