Human Rights Day 2024 - “Our rights, our future, right now”

Human Rights Day 2024

76th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

“Our rights, our future, right now”

“Reach out and connect, to build strong social movements that stand up for your rights and those of future generations. Call on your leaders to work for equality, justice, peace and all your human rights.” [1]

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Every December 10, UIA-IROL joins the international community in celebrating World Human Rights Day. This year, the theme of the day, “Our rights, our future, right now”, calls us to consider the current challenges we face today in preparing for a future that respects human rights. Human rights are not abstract ideas; they belong to all individuals and translate into very concrete actions that concern us all. 

UIA-IROL expresses its support for the campaign launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its commitment to protecting human rights and strengthening the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). [2] 

Since its adoption in 1948, these inalienable rights have served as a model for standards and policies throughout the world. They affirm that every individual, without distinction, is equal in dignity and rights. Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reaffirm the relevance of these principles, which are universal, indivisible and interdependent.

In the context of multiple crises such as armed conflict, climate change and technological progress, human rights are both an essential response and a lever for building a sustainable future.

The independence of the legal profession and the judiciary and the right to a fair trial are pillars of human rights protection. UIA-IROL continues to promote the independence of lawyers, human rights defenders, the judiciary, and the rule of law as essential conditions for peace and stability. 

Unprecedented advances in digital technology, including generative artificial intelligence, offer us previously unimaginable possibilities for advancing the realization of human rights as they transform our society.. However, such technology poses  risks to fundamental freedoms. UIA-IROL is aware of these challenges and calls for ethical and fair regulation of the technological advances, so that they serve humanity and respect the principles of equality and justice. [3] 

This day is also a reminder of the importance of understanding and recognizing the universality of human rights and their central role in our societies. We call for collective mobilization, through the 2024 annual awareness campaign, which will help reinvigorate the global human rights movement.

To find out more and make a commitment to “Our rights, our future, right now”, we invite you to consult the campaign launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to distribute, to the greatest extent possible, the materials provided for this purpose.

UIA-IROL renews its commitment to promoting the rule of law, international justice and the defense of lawyers and human rights defenders. In particular, we salute the courage of past and present generations of colleagues fighting for these rights and call on the international legal community to continue this legacy. Through its actions, UIA-IROL will continue to demand that leaders work for equality, justice, peace and human rights.  

UIA-IROL invites you to join the “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” campaign and use his World Human Rights Day to reaffirm the determination to build a world where everyone can live with dignity, freedom and justice.

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[1] Extract from the video message by Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, World Human Rights Day 2024, transcript available here.
[2] “Human Rights: A Path for Solutions”, Vision Statement offered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk – 2024
[3] UIA-IROL’s Paris Congress Session, 2024