Platform for Youth Development (PYD) joins Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in commemorating the International Human Rights Day. On 10 December 1948 delegates from all over the world gathered in Paris and devoted themselves to drafting a declaration that would enshrine the fundamental rights and freedoms of people everywhere. In the aftermath of World War II, many nations pressed for a declaration of this kind to help ensure that we prevent future atrocities and protect the inherent humanity and dignity of all people.
On that day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. The declaration proclaims a simple but powerful idea that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. In the declaration, it was made clear that rights are not conferred by government but they a birthright of all people. The declaration does not matter from which country one lives in. Because one is human, therefore he/she has rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them.
63 years down the line, some governments have not religiously accepted and enshrined the declaration into their local systems. Rampant abuse of human rights continues unabated. In Zimbabwe looks heading in the opposite direction, human rights defenders and civil society leaders have had to endure terrible times in prison on trumped up charges. The government is soldiering on with its disregard of the rights of all citizens as guided by the UDHR which Zimbabwe ratified.
The day marks an important chapter in the history of the world, it is indeed a day to honour and remember the works of human rights defenders and all those who died fighting for them. It is an important episode because it gives us time to remember human rights defenders across the world who continues to suffer harassment, torture, imprisonment and death because of their resolve to fight for human rights.
This year’s theme: Celebrate Human Rights resonates well with political developments witnessed especially in North African when technology played a pivotal role in displacing despotic and dictatorial rule in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. Social media has become a significant factor in the works of human rights defenders. The facebook, twitter, MySpace and many other tools have been very effective in coordinating events and activities and looks set to continue bringing results as new advancements are unleashed.
The day has come at a dark hour in Zimbabwe. Our hearts are saddened by the continued denial of freedom to the Glen View residents who were arrested on charges of murdering a police officer. We are worried on the fate of our media as the state has some kind of renewed their targeted onslaught of all media houses and personnel perceived to be against the establishment. Zimbabwe is approaching polls probably next year or 2013 and knowing the culture of violence and how the Inclusive government has failed to overturn and replace it with tolerance; we are heading for a more disastrous time for human rights defender and political activists.
Despite the gloomy picture, let’s not tire or be weakened by negative pointers. Let’s renew our commitments to fight for the respect of our human rights in Zimbabwe. The darkest hour is the hour before dawn and we should tie up our shoes and fight harder. Like any other country in the world, we Zimbabweans deserve a peaceful and democratic and tolerant society.
Human Rights belongs to everybody, let’s celebrate human rights.
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