Commentary, News

2022 International Human Rights Day

By Bubu Klinogo

Once again, the world is observing International Human Rights Day. Established in 1950, International Human Rights Day is celebrated every 10th day of December, to create awareness and mobilise the political will to promote respect for the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 1948. Human rights include the right to life, the right to fair trial, freedom from torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to health, education, and adequate standard of living.

These rights are meant to be the same for all people everywhere – men and women, young and old and the rich and poor, regardless of background or social status and what they think or believe in. Of course, that is what makes human rights ‘universal. Since the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights, laws and policies embracing human rights have made the world freer.

However, there is no doubt that even presently, there are still thousands of men, women, and even children trapped in conflict zones and many of them die while seeking protection; people who are left at the margin of society and discriminated against; those who continue to be repressed, beaten or killed, because they express themselves.

There are people, who are still locked up due to some form of disability as well as those trafficked and exploited. With reference to Ghana, the introduction of a national health insurance scheme, the free and compulsory universal basic education, free SHS policy, the school feeding programme, the livelihood empowerment against poverty program and the repeal of the criminal libel law are great and commendable steps towards promoting the fundamental human rights of all Ghanaians. But, there is still more room for improvement. It may appear that the country is caught up in witches dance where one takes two steps forward and two steps backwards. For instance, despite the repeal of the criminal libel law, Journalists, social commentators and activists have come under some arbitrary arrests and detentions and in some cases assassinated as was the case of investigative Journalist, Ahmed Suale. The country has also dropped 30 places to attain the 60th position in the current press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders, its lowest ranking in almost two decades.

Also, sixteen years after the enactment of the Persons with Disability (PWD) Act, 2006 (Act 715), which seeks to end discrimination against PWDs, they continue to face and go through harrowing experiences in accessing public spaces and services.

Although the Act gave a 10-year moratorium for all public buildings to be made disability-friendly, the premises of many public institutions remain a “no go area” for physically challenged persons after the expiration of the moratorium on August 11, 2016. Other issues, such as human trafficking, forced child labor, housing rights with forced evictions, vigilante violence, political corruption remain a huge challenge and a bane to our development. It is in line with this, that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the UN in Ghana, with funding support from the European Union, convened a public forum to mark this year’s International Human Rights Day to deliberate on the current state of human rights in Ghana and proffer more effective ways of ensuring government’s accountability and commitment for human right issues, and abuses, as well as create an enabling environment, that ensures every Ghanaian enjoys equal rights.

Celebrating this year’s Human Rights Day on the theme, “Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All,” people of the world are beckoned to Stand Up For their rights and the rights of others.

It also behoves the citizen and the state and its agencies to collaborate, promote and protect human rights.