Every year, we celebrate Human Rights Day on the 10th of December to remind the whole world about human rights.
Like the ongoing tradition, 2024 has got a theme as well—‘Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.’ This theme primarily emphasizes the importance of human rights in our daily lives. It promotes the concept of bringing out a change by standing against hateful speech towards the helpless or minority, combating the wrong facts or disinformation that can deceive or mislead people. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, delivered a speech where he said that “Human rights are the foundation for peaceful, just and inclusive societies.” This speech spreads a message to stand up to secure our rights so that we can build a future where each of us can exercise our own rights freely as a human.
To support human rights and to advocate for them, we don’t need to be any powerful figure in our society. Sometimes, thoughts like, ‘How can I fight alone? I don’t have much influence in my society. What will I achieve?’ may occur to us. However, we keep forgetting the fact that the small, consistent actions by a single entity can bring about substantial change slowly with time. So, let’s thrive in the confronting journey from our own position and keep making efforts till we witness the change we hope for in our locality, society, community, country and the world as a whole.
Here are 10 ideas that you can utilize to support human rights in your own community:
1. Empower yourself and others with education
There is no better way to empower yourself and the community than through education. An educated individual will certainly be aware of his/her rights. He will also acknowledge the rights of others.
2. Speak out against Discrimination
Do not let any discrimination happen in your own community. Raise your voice for helpless people who can’t fight for themselves.
3. Defend human rights defenders
Sometimes defenders of human rights get humiliated while promoting something that is considered taboo by prejudiced people. Help them out if you can when they face these kinds of situations. You can also help them in arranging sessions, campaigns and workshops.
4. Arrange campaigns to promote inclusion
Try to make your community diversified so that people of different races, religions and genders feel included and exercise their rights freely, without being suppressed. Take a stand for people who are facing injustice because of their differences. Include them in all communal activities.
5. Volunteer with human rights organizations
There are many volunteering organizations that work for the welfare of society. You can be a part of them and work for the betterment of your community like youth development, saving the environment and helping the helpless people.
6. Report human rights violations
If you become the witness of any human rights violations and can’t do anything about the matter, take action in another way. You may document the incident and report it to the appropriate authority.
7. Raise awareness about digital rights
In this digital age, it has become really important to secure online privacy. You can promote awareness regarding digital rights and the ethical use of technology in your community.
8. Promote environmental sustainability
Promote awareness on how we bleed when our environment bleeds. Advocate for clean water and sustainable exercises. Try to ensure a healthy environment for all.
9. Start a human rights club
You, with some of your communal friends, can initiate a club through which you will be engaged in promoting human rights. You can arrange various campaigns and fundraisers through this club.
10. Stand against corruption
We all are aware of how the chain of corruption destroys a society, a nation. Join anti-corruption campaigns to promote awareness.
If you can’t take initiative in the communal stage, at least try to initiate the change from your own family and nearby surroundings. Most importantly, be the change you want to see in others, be true to yourself, be a role model so that others can follow in your footsteps, and play a pivotal role in upholding human rights.
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Writer,
Kazi Mirana Mainuddin
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE